Olive Gowen

Olive Mills Massie Gowen In the early morning of Monday, April 30th, 2012, Olive Mills Massie Gowen passed away peacefully at the Beaumont Retirement Community of Bryn Mawr, PA. Beloved wife, mother and grandmother, she died from Parkinson's complications. She is survived by her husband of fifty seven years, Francis I. Gowen, her daughters Elizabeth G. Kuensell, Sally G. Francis, and her son, James E. Gowen, II, as well as seven grandchildren. Born in West Palm Beach, Florida on December 31, 1928, she graduated from The Palm Beach Day School and later earned an associate degree at Pine Manor College. She worked in New York City in the fashion business, then married and settled outside of Philadelphia. She began to develop a wide circle of friends there while maintaining her life long Florida friends and family. Through her life she studied natural history, especially Florida shells, and collected antiques. She expressed her ongoing appreciation of art through her pottery business, watercolors and acrylics. She served on the Women's Committee of The HMS School from 1964-2001, and was Treasurer from 1964-1967. In celebration of her life, her family extends an invitation, for Olive's friends and family, to a memorial service at noon on Thursday, May 3, The Merion Cricket Club. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to The HMS School, 4400 Baltimore Avenue, Philadelphia PA 10104 (215.222.2566 hmsschool.org). Stuard FH - Ardmore