July 26, 2022

Mary Albert McGowan, 91, of Prairie Village, KS, passed away peacefully the morning of July 26th.

She is survived by her three children; son William (Joby) of Prairie Village, KS; daughters Amy of Kansas City, Mo and Catherine (Ray) of Nashville, TN; grandsons Andrew (Wei Yan) of Lafayette, CA and Thomas (Caylin) of Roeland Park, KS and her brother, John Albert (Veronica) of Ridgeley, WV.  Mary is preceded in death by her husband, Robert “Bob” McGowan; her parents, William and Anita Albert and her brothers, William and Thomas Albert.

Mary grew up on the Mississippi River in Lansing, Iowa where she graduated from Immaculate Conception High School.  She attended the College of St. Teresa in Winona, Minnesota and upon graduating in 1952 with a B.A. in Social Science, embarked on what would become a career dedicated to the service of others.  

For two years she worked for the American Red Cross providing recreational therapy to wounded soldiers at military hospitals.  Mary was stationed at Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio, Texas when she met and fell in love with a Corporal in the Army Medical Corps - Bob McGowan.  Mary took a job as a caseworker for Catholic Social Services in La Crosse, Wisconsin while Bob completed college.  They married in June of 1956 and settled in Kansas City to raise their family.

While the kids were still in grade school, she made the decision to go back to school herself.  In 1970 she obtained her Master’s Degree in Social Work from the University of Kansas.  Mary was drawn, both in her training and her eventual employment, to the public school system.  She was hired by the Shawnee Mission Unified School district in 1972 as a school social worker.  During her 22 years with the district, Mary established a reputation for her ability to communicate with compassion and clear understanding to parents and students alike and was known for her adept counseling skills. She served as Director of the Special Services Counseling Clinic, coordinator of district social workers and Early Childhood Special Education Facilitator.  Mary was a leader among her peers and an influential mentor to fellow social workers, many of whom remained lifelong friends.  She was a charter member of the Kansas Association of School Social Workers, serving terms as president and vice president.  In 1989, Mary was named Kansas School Social Worker of the year in recognition of her commitment to the profession.  She respected and enjoyed the opportunity to make an impact on students and their families in what she described as “a hopeful job.”

Mary served on a number of boards and task forces, with an emphasis on mental health, all aimed at bettering the community she lived in.  In 1975, she was appointed to the Johnson County Human Relations Commission and served for three years.  Mary served on the Johnson County Commission on Aging from 2002 to 2010.

After her retirement, Mary put her experience to work in other areas of social work.  She provided therapeutic counseling to seniors.  At Shawnee Mission Medical center, she assisted with social work services for hospitalized patients.  

Before embarking on her professional career, Mary found camaraderie and friendship with the American Association of University Women (AAUW), where she was an active, lifelong member.  She remained loyal to her college alma mater and regularly attended Saint Teresa reunions.

Mary was known for her stellar sense of humor, distinctive laugh and love of a good (or bad) pun. She was an avid bridge player and enjoyed word games. Gardening was a passion for her and every season brought new plans and plants to her gardens.  Mary loved dogs.  Beginning with her beloved Rex and ending with Zeke, she had a life full of canine affection.

Nothing was more important to Mary than her family.  She and Bob spent nearly 66 years together – raising three children, sharing their love of good food, dancing, going to movies and social events, being engaged in their many communities, watching their grandsons grow into fine men, and traveling all over the U.S. and internationally.  She especially treasured annual reunions with her brothers and spending time at the family’s rock house on the Mississippi river.  Mary believed in passing on the values she learned from her parents and taught tolerance, honesty and respect for others.

The family sends a special thank you to the kind and compassionate staff at Santa Marta Assisted Living who have taken such good care of both of our parents for the last three years. 

Visitation will be at 2 pm on Friday, August 5th, with Catholic Mass at 3 pm in the Chapel at St Ann Catholic Church, 7231 Mission Rd, Prairie Village, KS.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in Mary’s name to Doctors Without Borders or Wayside Waifs.