John Sherman Mcgowan

John Sherman McGowan was born on June 10, 1918 to John Daniel McGowan and Nell
Sherman McGowan in Los Angeles, CA. He died on June 4, 2012 in Astoria, OR,
John grew up in Ilwaco, WA and graduated from Ilwaco High School. He attended the
University of Oregon and graduated in 1940 with a BS in Business. He was a member of
Beta Theta Pi Fraternity and was an avid fan of the Oregon Ducks.
Following college, John entered the family seafood business, which had been pioneered by
his paternal grandfather, PJ McGowan in 1861 on the lower Columbia River.
John and Anne Halderman McGowan were married in 1950 in Astoria. They raised three
children: Nancy, Barbara, and John Patrick. They resided in Astoria until 1974 and then
returned to the area after his retirement in 1981.
John served in the US Navy during World War II and following the war, joined Columbia
River Packer’s Association (later Bumble Bee Seafoods). His entire career was spent in the
seafood industry, where he retired as President of Bumble Bee Seafoods and a Senior Vice-
President of Castle & Cooke, Inc.
In 1982, John was appointed by President Ronald Reagan as United States Commissioner
on the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas.
John was active in the community, serving as President of the Columbia River Maritime
Museum. He also served as a Board Member for numerous organizations: AAA of Oregon
& Idaho, First Interstate Bank of Oregon, Henningsen Cold Storage, and the University of
Oregon Foundation. He was a Senior Member of the Arlington Club. He was also a member
of Grace Episcopal Church, Astoria Golf & Country Club, and the Clifton Athletic Club.
John enjoyed golf, bird hunting and travel as well as spending time with his family. He
traveled extensively for both business and pleasure and always enjoyed visiting new places.
John was a consummate story-teller and enjoyed entertaining family and friends with stories
about the past. His memory was exceptional and he could always be counted on for detailed
stories about events that often happened decades earlier.
John was preceded in death by Anne in 2003. He is survived by his daughter Nancy Mabry
and her husband Tim, of Hermiston, OR; daughter Barbara Courtney and her partner
Richard Straw of Eugene, OR; son John Patrick McGowan and his wife
Cheri, of Sammamish, WA. He is also survived by six
grandchildren: John Mabry, Mary Katherine Mabry, Chris
Courtney, Jenny Courtney Rydstedt (Stephen), Eryn McGowan,
and Kyle McGowan. He also had several great grand children and
a nephew, John Seagraves of Thousand Oaks, CA.
Caldwell’s Luce-Layton is in charge of the services. A memorial
service will be held on Saturday, June 16, at 1pm at Grace
Episcopal Church in Astoria. A reception will be held at the
Astoria Golf & Country Club following the service.
Memorial contributions may be made to Columbia River
Maritime Museum, Grace Episcopal Church Memorial
Fund, Oregon Community Foundation, or
Clatsop Care Center.