Bebe Lord Johnston Gow

1927 - 2026

Bebe Lord Johnston Gow
05/21/1927 - 03/18/2026
Red-haired Bebe Gow was born as Barbara Jane Lord in Montclair, New Jersey, on May 21, 1927, to Faith Evelyn Wiggins of Minnesota and Andrew James Lord of New Jersey. She went to Heaven on March 18, 2026 passing peacefully in her sleep.
Bebe's father, a co-founder in 1929 of New York City-based Lord, Abbett & Company, quickly became the enduring inspiration of her life, and she grew up riding horses with him. In 1944, Bebe graduated from Kent Place School and entered Smith College where she became a cheerleader and studied Art History. While she was away at school in early 1946, her father's untimely death in a horseback accident became a defining event in her life. Bebe withdrew from college, and on October 12, 1946 she married the son of family friends, Douglas Earle Johnston, after a whirlwind courtship. The couple soon moved to Houston, where Doug had lived briefly before World War II, and in 1948 they started their family of four boys.
As a 19-year-old bride in Houston, Bebe soon joined Christ Church Cathedral where she was a parishioner for the next 80 years. Her volunteer work included serving as an usher at the original Alley Theater in 1949 and also the Houston Symphony Orchestra. In 1950 she joined the Junior League and later the Garden Club of Houston, where she was active for many years. She was one of four co-founders in the 1950s of The Dancers, an active Houston social organization which flourishes today. Bebe's talents as an artist (including completing over thirty commissioned pastel portraits, plus a 'colorful paintings' oil show at Meredith Long Galleries) were paralleled by her serving as a long-time docent and guide at the Museum of Fine Arts. In 1972 she served as Co-Chair of the Gala Opening of the Contemporary Art Museum's Montrose Boulevard facility.
As an ardent American and lifelong Republican, she was active in the early House and Senate campaigns of George H.W. Bush and in the 1968 Presidential Campaign of Richard Nixon, including her role as Co-Chair of Volunteers for Harris County. Bebe and Doug were members of Houston Country Club, Galveston Boat Club, Texas Corinthian Yacht Club, Allegro, Tejas Club, and Garwood Hunting Club.
Bebe was a multi-talented athlete in horseback riding, golf, sailing, and tennis. Her many accomplishments as an equestrienne included competing at Madison Square Garden in her teens. An avid tennis player, she won numerous women's singles and doubles championships and occasionally teamed up with former President George H.W. Bush and former Secretary of State James A. Baker III. Two-time tennis Grand Slam winner Rod Laver was a houseguest in 1961 and 1962 when he won the River Oaks Invitational Tennis Tournament. An especially fond athletic memory of Bebe, whose father had taught her ping pong as a girl, was defeating Prince Juan Carlos (later King Juan Carlos I of Spain) in the Houston attic game room of her closest friend, Jane Mosbacher, in 1969. She won several requested rematches, too.
In early 1974, she married Robert H. (Bob) Gow, and helped raise his three children Laura (Brame), David (Audrey), and Heather (Jeffrey Firestone). They acquired and refurbished Mayan ruins in the Yucatan jungle at a plantation-style residence known as 'Xixim.' During their marriage, Bebe was also co-owner of a tennis clothes store known as The Drop Shot, and together Bebe and Bob started Gow Bee Farms, which produced gourmet honey products from bee hives owned across Texas.
Bob and Bebe Gow were divorced in 1991. Bebe then developed a long-term relationship with Max Faget, a highly regarded engineer, scientist, space pioneer and inventor and one of NASA's leaders in developing the manned spacecraft programs that put men on the moon. Bebe regarded Max Faget as one of the most wonderful companions and men she ever knew. They traveled the world together. She missed him greatly after his death in 2004.
In her late 70s, Bebe worked for over ten years at The Guild Shop on Dunlavy Street in Houston as a sales volunteer. She regarded her Guild Shop years as among the most rewarding of her life, and she was grateful for the support of her many co-workers and customers. She also participated in the support and advancement of nearby Stages Repertory Theater. When not on sales duty at The Guild Shop, she pursued her lifelong ambition of creative writing, including stage plays and screenplays. In 2012, at age 85, she completed and self-published her first novel, Seeking Hakka Bakka, and followed it in 2016 with her second novel, A Bright Yellow Yoyo. Bebe also endowed the Creative Writing Award at Kent Place School in New Jersey to acknowledge the inspiration of her 8th Grade teacher, Miss English, who encouraged her to believe in herself as a writer.
Bebe survived her two former husbands, her older brother Andrew James Lord, Jr. of Wellesley Hills, Massachusetts, and her younger sister Drew Anne Lord (MacWilliam) of Houston. She leaves behind her four sons, Andy (Grace), Rusty (Paule), Peter (Weezie) and Doug, Jr., her 11 grandchildren, 26 great-grandchildren, eight nieces and nephews and three stepchildren, with whom she shared her love and laughter.
Recently, when asked to define her life in a single word, she responded 'Enthusiasm!' She kept her sons and their families and her step-children on their toes for decades with her spirit of play and frequent April Fool's pranks and similar surprises. Bebe also loved her many friends throughout her very colorful and active life.
Bebe lived her final four years at The Hallmark Health Care facility where she received excellent care and attention. She thrived as she participated in social activities, games and physical therapy. More importantly, Bebe found the answer to her lifelong question, "Who am I and where am I going?" With words of encouragement and prayers of family and friends, she accepted Jesus Christ as her Lord and Savior. Bebe now lives in the company of the saints in the land of light and joy.
A Memorial Service will be held at 11 AM on June 20, 2026 at Christ Church Cathedral. In lieu of gifts or flowers, Bebe requested everyone to celebrate her life by wearing the brightest colors possible.
Bebe Gow's extensive photo albums, including those of post-WWII Houston 1945-1962, have been archived by the University of Houston in its Digital Archives Collection.