Michael Ray McGowen, age 78, passed away peacefully surrounded by his family on Tuesday, December 23, 2025, in Ardmore, Okla. Funeral services will be held at 10:30 AM, Tuesday, December 30, 2025, at Church of Christ on Merrick Drive, Ardmore, with Minister Willie Sanchez and Minister Ron Benedick officiating. Interment to follow in Rose Hill Cemetery, Ardmore.

Mike was born on July 24, 1947, to Guy L.” Bud” McGowen and Anna Rhea (Bray) McGowen. Mike spent his early life in Duncan, Okla., where he attended elementary school. His family moved to Ardmore where he attended and graduated from Plainview Schools in 1965. He went on to attend Southeastern State University in Durant, Okla., where he achieved a Bachelors’ Degree in English and Speech. He taught school at Springdale and Dickson where he met and later married Marian Jean (Bryson) McGowen on April 9, 1971, at Ardmore, Okla. He then went to work for Uniroyal and, after 20 plus years, retired from Michelin. He and his wife were the co-owners of R&R Trophy for ten years. After Mike’s first wife Marian passed on December 2, 2014, he married Marcia Ann Cook on April 7, 2018, in Ardmore. Mike was a Certified Football Official with OSSA receiving his twenty-five-year certificate and enjoyed being on the same crew with his son, Michael.

Mike loved to write cowboy poetry and won second place in the senior poetry contest for the state of Oklahoma. He loved listening to bluegrass, gospel music and was even an extra in a Dillinger movie in his youth. He liked to go bowling, fishing, and singing with friends. Mike has been a member of the Church of Christ for many years, and has enjoyed serving as a lay minister, preaching throughout Oklahoma for 25 years.

He was preceded in death by his parents, and wife, Marian McGowen.

Michael is survived by his wife, Marcia McGowen, daughter, Marla Rae Bleakley and husband, Steve, son, Michael James McGowen and wife, Danette, granddaughter, Riley Hunter Bleakley, grandson, Chase Drew Bleakley, and brother, James Patrick McGowen. He is also survived by his step-children: Terry Bateman, Lisa Koehn, and Teresa Henson, seven grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.

Those serving as pallbearers will be Steve Bleakley, Chase Bleakley, Brad Koehn, Hoyt Henson, Jim Welch, and Brian McGahey. Honorary Bearers will be the Men’s Prayer Group.

Visitation will be held on Monday evening, from 6:00 pm until 8:00 pm, December 29, 2025, at Griffin ~ Hillcrest Funeral Home, Ardmore.

Condolences may be left at www.griffinhillcrest.com.