January 14, 1940 – September 29, 2022
Linda Sue Odom McGowen, 82, of Alvin, Texas passed away peacefully on Thursday, September 29, 2022. She was born January 14, 1940 in El Dorado, Arkansas to James Graydon Odom and Eunice Alene Osborne Odom. She moved with her family to Alvin and graduated from Alvin High School in 1958. Linda married Ron “Ronnie” McGowen in 1959 and they remained in Alvin where they raised two sons. They were married for 58 years.
Linda devoted her life to the care of children. She taught kindergarten at First Baptist Church. She then worked at Raggedy Ann and Andy Daycare Center and later joined Alvin ISD where she worked for more than two decades as a teacher’s assistant in special education and physical education at Longfellow Elementary. After her retirement, she served as a substitute teacher at Longfellow Elementary and later Hasse Elementary.
Although Linda was proud of her roles as an educator and childcare professional, she most cherished her role as Mimi to six wonderful grandsons. In the final year of her life, she felt so blessed by a foster great-granddaughter who came into her life.
Linda, or Linda Sue as many knew her, loved her family, her Longfellow friends, trips to the Alvin Library, watching the Houston Astros, going to gospel music concerts with her sister, and spoiling her children and grandchildren with her wonderful southern cooking. Even after the grandsons moved away from home, they loved to visit for some of Mimi’s fried chicken.
Linda was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Ron McGowen, her son Randy McGowen, and her grandson Cole McGowen. She is survived by her son Robby McGowen and wife, Michelle, of Alvin, Texas and daughter-in-law Suzi McGowen of Boring, Oregon; grandsons Cody Drake and wife Zoie, Michael Sanz, Ty McGowen, Davis Drake, and Sully McGowen, a foster great-granddaughter; sisters Marian Hensley, Donna Stavinoha, and Gerry Odom; brother James “Jimmy” Odom, and numerous beloved nieces and nephews.
Friends are cordially invited to the visitation with the family on Friday, November 11, 2022 at 9:00 A.M. with the memorial service to follow at 10:00 A.M. at Jeter Funeral Home Chapel, 311 N. Friendswood Dr., Friendswood, Texas 77546.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the Alvin ISD Education Foundation in memory of Linda McGowen, P.O. Box 2342, Alvin, Texas 77512 or visit www.alvinisd.net/educationfoundation.
3 thoughts on “Linda Sue Odom McGowen”
Praying for you and your family during this time of grief and loss of such a special woman
My deepest condolences to the family of this beautiful lady and friend from the time we met at Longfellow Elementary and then reunited at Hasse Elementary. She was one great lady and friend . She will be missed. Prayers for family and her beautiful soul . Blessings
It is always hard to lose someone. Linda Sue was a classmate and friend to all she met. May God wrap His loving arms around her family and give them comfort.