Allan STOWELL

1941 - 2023

STOWELL, Allan James 81, passed away peacefully on Saturday, January 14, 2023, surrounded by friends and family. Born in Alexandria, VA, on October 3, 1941, he was the quintessential self-made man, a shrewd real estate entrepreneur who worked all his life to save and acquire his fortune, and famously shopped at garage sales and thrift shops. He grew up in Falls Church, VA, but spent many summers at his grandparent's house in Clearwater, FL. He loved marine science, malacology, and dreamed of becoming a marine biologist, all of which expressed itself in his extensive shell collection. His father taught him to be an electrician, and he founded his first company, Action Electric, in Arlington, VA. As his company prospered, he began purchasing property, first in Arlington, and then in Clearwater. After selling land for the old Clearwater Mall on Route 19 and Gulf to Bay, he was able to move to Florida permanently in 1974. He continued to work as an electrical contractor while becoming a land developer. He also built the largest hurricane-proof billboard on Gulf to Bay. He had a passionate interest in politics as a traditional Republican, arranged dances and fundraising events as a social chairman, and was invited to an inaugural ball in Tallahassee. But it was his unique vision and life quest of acquiring individual parcels of land starting in the mid-1960's that together became a lifetime emotional attachment: one of the most beautiful, park-like properties among old, moss-covered oak trees on Tampa Bay, which includes the Bayview Wedding Chapel, formerly the Bethel Presbyterian Church. He called it "God's Country" and considered himself just the "Caretaker". He lived there for the duration of his life. In 2000, he established Stowell Properties, LLC and became very active in local civic organizations. He was a director of the Bay Area Apartment Association in 2013. On May 20, 1983, his only child, James Allan Stowell, was born. Allan's sun rose and set in this young man. Unfortunately, his "Jimmie" passed away at 33 years old. It was Allan's desire to see his property developed in honor of his son, who gave him three granddaughters. Every year he would allow his land to be used to sell Christmas trees and fireworks, as well as to host an annual picnic and bonfire for the Heaven's Saints Motorcycle Ministry. He loved chocolate and ate out, voraciously, every night. He relished concerts by the Florida Orchestra at Ruth Eckerd Hall, especially Handel's Messiah at Christmas. He saw good where other people didn't, and often reached out to help the homeless. He was extremely invested in two churches, the Calvary Baptist Church of Clearwater, and the first Baptist Church of Indian Rocks. In addition to his beloved son, Allan was pre-deceased by his sisters, Kimberly Charlene Stowell Stevans and Barbara "Peaches" Stowell; and his brother, John Stowell. He is survived by his daughter-in-law, Julie Stowell; his grandchildren, Cheyenne and Dakota Stowell, and Savana Moore; his devoted friend, Desiree Little; his brother-in law, David Stevans; his sisters, Kathleen Anderson Williams and Laura Suzanne Anderson; and his right-hand and confidant, Johannes H. Waart. A "Celebration of Life" in his honor will take place on Saturday, February 4, 2023, at the chapel and fellowship hall, 2905 Gulf to Bay Boulevard in Clearwater at 1 pm. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Judgement House, 13799 Park Blvd. #101, Seminole, FL 33776 (http://judgementhouse.org/donate), which is a walk-through drama about people's choices and the consequences of those decisions in this life and the next. A donation in the form of a brick for Operation PAR's Recovery Garden walkway can be engraved "In honor of Allan James Stowell" (https://polarengraving.com/operationpar). Operation PAR, located at 6150 150th Ave. North in Clearwater, is a therapeutic substance abuse program which Allan vigorously supported on behalf of his son. Allan's chapel has been home to the Garden of Grace Ministries, which sponsors missions in Haiti, Dominica, Burundi, Congo, Tanzania, Rwanda, and Kenya. Donations can be made via their website: https://www.gardenofgraceministries.org/donations. Donations to the Prophetic Healing and Deliverance Center, another ministry that made the chapel its home, should be sent to 2225 Nursery Road, Unit 13-204, Clearwater, FL. 33764. For the Heaven's Saints Motorcycle Ministry, checks should be sent to 1630 Keystone Court, Clearwater, FL 33756.