Susan McGowan

Michael Brophy & Susan Jean McGowan

Obituary of Michael Brophy McGowan and Susan Jean McGowan
This obituary is a tribute to the beautiful lives of Mike and Sue McGowan. They will be missed.

Michael Brophy McGowan passed away on December 4th, 2019, and Susan Jean McGowan passed away on August 12th, 2021. Michael (Mike) passed away following a long battle with liver and kidney disease. He was 61. A celebration of Mike's life, with family and friends, took place in Sonoma at Jacuzzi Winery on March 14th, 2020. Susan (Sue) passed away following a brief but courageous battle with extensive small cell lung cancer. She was 59. A celebration of Sue's life with family and friends took place in Scottsdale on September 4th, 2021. Both Mike and Sue lived in San Diego and worked in the same industry in the early 1980s. They met at a work function, and the rest is history. They were married on February 21st, 1986, in La Crescenta, CA. The newly married couple moved to Mike's hometown of San Rafael then eventually settled in Novato, CA, in 1994. Together they started and ran a successful business, M.B. McGowan & Associates Insurance Agency, in the surety bonding industry while raising their two children, Michael and Stephen.

Mike was born in San Francisco on June 29th, 1958, to the parents of Matthew (Tim) and Paula McGowan. Being born and raised in Marin County, Mike was an avid sailor where he would spend most of his childhood days on the waters of the San Francisco Bay then summers at the McGowan Family Cabin in Inverness along Tomales Bay. Eventually graduating high school from Marin Academy in 1976, Mike went to community college at College of Marin (COM) for two years before transferring to UC Santa Barbara. He graduated with two Business Degrees in Finance and Business Administration in 1980. He then took a job after college in San Diego, where he would eventually meet Sue a few years later.

Sue was born in Glendale, CA, on December 28th, 1962, to Stephen (Steve) and Frances (Fran) Pehar. Sue grew up in La Crescenta, CA, where she eventually graduated from La Crescenta Valley High School in 1980. Upon graduation, Sue moved to San Diego to begin her long-time career in the surety bond industry. Along with going to school at night at San Diego State University, she worked long hours, but just like any Southern California girl, she spent all her spare time at the beach and with Mike. She loved the atmosphere of the beach where you could ride your bike along the boardwalk, tan in the sun, and enjoy time with friends. She would eventually finish her Business Administration degree at the University of Phoenix in 1992 before her first son Michael was born.

Mike and Sue lived in Marin County for over 30 years while contributing their time and proceeds to various organizations over the years that gave back to the communities where they lived and worked. Sue was part of the Marin Designer Showcase for many years, and Mike was a member of the Bohemian Club in San Francisco. Mike and Sue also supported their sons' sports teams throughout their childhoods. Sue volunteered to manage the snack bar stands and help set up for games while Mike coached his son's teams.

Amid retirement in 2019, Mike and Sue sold their company M.B. McGowan & Associates, and split their time between their Novato and Scottsdale (Arizona) homes. The plan was to eventually retire full-time in Hidden Hills (Scottsdale) in 2023. Sue sold their home in Novato upon Mike's passing and moved permanently to Scottsdale in April 2020. Mike and Sue enjoyed the Scottsdale area, the warm weather in Arizona and made many friends during their short time there. Sue was looking forward to becoming a grandmother at the end of this year in December, just before her 60th birthday.

Mike and Sue are survived by their two sons, Michael B. McGowan, II and wife Sara, Stephen McGowan, Mike's father Matthew (Tim) McGowan, Mike's Brother Timothy (TJ) James McGowan and wife Kathleen, Sue's sister Laurie Pehar-Borsh and husband Mike, Sue's brother John Pehar and wife Christine, along with five nephews and three nieces.

Tributes can be made in memory of Mike and Sue McGowan to Faith Hospice 426 N. 44th St. Suite 405, Phoenix, AZ 85008 or The Okizu Foundation http://okizu.org/susanmcgowan The mission of Okizu is to help all members of families affected by childhood cancer.