Marilyn Alyce McGowen

McGowen, Marilyn Alyce

Oxford, Michigan formerly of Charlestown, Massachusetts

Born August 3, 1942, in Brookline, Massachusetts to Leonard and Anne Hastings, Marilyn passed away peacefully in her home on June 5, 2026, at the age of 83.

Beloved wife of Martin "Gene" McGowen for 61 years. Devoted mother of David (Chena) McGowen, Richard (Christina) McGowen, Robert (Jennifer) McGowen, and Melissa (Donald) Hendriks. Cherished Grandma of the late Aaron, Mitchell (Vivian), the late Elizabeth, Joseph, Margaret, Meghan, William, Samuel, and Anna. Loving Great-Grandma of the late Jace and Eiza. Preceded in death by her parents Leonard and Anne Hastings, her aunt Ellen "Betty" Walsh, and her siblings Leonard "Lenny," Patricia "Pat," and Virginia "Ginny."

Marilyn was, above all else, a woman of extraordinary strength. Life asked much of her — she said goodbye to siblings, grandchildren, and a great-grandchild; she laid down the cosmetology career she had built and loved for so many years when arthritis took it from her hands; and she left behind the Boston she always considered home to follow her husband and build a life in Michigan. She never let any of these losses dim her. She simply smiled and kept going, sharing her strength with those around her. To know Marilyn was to be in the presence of someone who showed you, without ever saying a word about it, what it means to be unbreakable.

She was a skilled hairdresser who took genuine pride not only in her craft, but in making people feel their best. She delighted in crocheting, reading, shopping, and her sacred daily coffee. She also had a well-known weakness for a good piece of cake, which her family will remember with a smile every time one appears at the table. Her grandchildren were her joy. She showed up for their events, cheered them on, and made every one of them feel like the most important person in the room. Her dearest companion in life was her sister Ginny — her best friend, her confidante, the other pea in the pod. No matter the miles between them, Marilyn made the trip back to Boston at least once a year just to be with her, to sit beside the ocean and be home again, together. When Ginny passed a couple of years ago, Marilyn carried that loss the way she carried all the others — quietly, gracefully, and without ever losing her smile. She was a proud, devoted Catholic who spent countless hours praying the rosary for anyone who could use a helping hand.  She treasured her Irish roots and her Boston heritage with a loyalty that never wavered — and made sure her family knew exactly where they came from. She was the matriarch of this family in every sense of the word, and she will be deeply missed.

Friends may visit Lewis E. Wint & Son Funeral Home, Clarkston on Wednesday, June 10th from 4:00pm to 8:00pm.

Funeral Liturgy to take place on Thursday, June 11th at the funeral home at 10:00am.

Interment Great Lakes National Cemetery, Holly.

Memorials may be made to the Ortonville Community Emergency Fund (OCEF) .

Please leave a memory or condolence on the online guestbook below.