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- Subscribe - Contact Us - Rate Card - Place an Ad Archives Revels Classifieds Real Estate Guide Weather Subscribe Contact Us January 17, 2005 Joan Marie 'Joanie' McGowan Artist, actress, environmentalist, playwright, video producer, politician and community activist Joan Marie "Joanie" McGowan died last week near her beloved Bear Creek Greenway in Ashland. Daughter of Robert V. and Evelyn G. (Boardman) McGowan, Joanie grew up with four older siblings and one younger brother in the small New England town of North Attleboro, Massachusetts. A few years after graduating from high school, Joanie came to Ashland, and found in the community here a welcoming and lasting home. For many years, she served as artist-in-residence, waitress, and 'social spark' at Geppetto's Restaurant on Main Street. She then became a successful car salesperson at Town and Country Chevrolet in Ashland. In 2000, Joanie joined the development staff of Jefferson Public Radio, where she loved taking her turn hosting the semi-annual on-air fund drives. She was frequently invited to be the spirited emcee of benefits and other communities. In 1999, Joanie became a member of the Hamazons, a local women's comedy troupe. In 2002 Joanie McGowan wrote, produced, directed and starred in an original play, "It's Never Too Late to Save the World." She had hoped to take the play on a national tour last September in an effort to inspire people to be more involved in local national grassroots action. Last week, Joanie lost her battle with bipolar disorder and took her own life. Her death is a great loss to her family an the communities she was involved in. We will miss her dearly. Joanie is survived by her stepmother, Mary McGowan of South Yarmouth, MA; aunts, Claire Boardman Girard of Bristol, CT, Clare Boardman of Attleboro, MA, and Alice Boardman of Marblehead, MA; sister Claire McGowan, OP of Bardstown, KY; brothers and sisters-in-law Bob McGowan and Robin Talkowski of Acton, MA, Paul McGowan of Ogunquit, ME and Bill and Therese Uhalde McGowan of Pacifica, CA; nieces Colleen Kelly Karney of Alexandria, VA, and Erin McGowan-Haye of Wells, ME; nephews Cory McGowan of Chiba, Japan, and John and David McGowan of Acton, MA; and great-nieces, Lexy and Casi Haye of Wells, ME, and Olivia Karney of Alexandria, VA. The loss of Joanie was due to a disease that we still know too little about. We can honor her life by promoting better research and treatment for those who struggle daily with bipolar disorder, a disease that is truly lethal and too often underestimated. A memorial celebration of Joanie's life will be held Sunday, January 16 in the Rogue River Room of Southern Oregon University. All are invited. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in her memory to the National Association of Mental Health. DailyTidings.com Home Page Archives | Revels | Classifieds | Real Estate Guide | Weather | Subscribe | Contact Us Copyright 2005 Ashland Daily Tidings and Ottaway Newspapers All Rights Reserved Slippers Women's & Men's Slippers Ceramic Piggy Banks heloc libor rate Calenders 2005 Calender 2005 Accelerate Weightloss Products Memory Foam Mattress afsa studentloans home equity loans teleconferencing W2 Forms fasa student loans Matchmaking & Dating Scripts African Safari Conference Calls - $50/Month Security Systems student loan consolidation wholesale diamonds Currancy Exchange web conferencing Online Casinos Community Click Here Site Search: .:Advertisements:. RESOURCES - Mail Tribune News - ODOT Road Cams