Lewen Gower Obituary (1928

Our loving Mom, Grandma and Great Grandma Nana, Lewen Orton Gower, passed away May 4, 2011 at Valley View Medical Center in Cedar City, Utah from trauma due to a fall. She had just celebrated her 83rd birthday with her family.Lewen was born April 13, 1928 in Panguitch, Utah, the oldest of three children born to Jared J. (Jed) and Bergetta Miller Orton. She always said that Friday the 13th was not a day to be feared, but a great day because she was born Friday the 13th.She attended schools in Parowan, Utah, graduating from Parowan High School in 1946.She was working at Parowan Drug when she met her future husband, Reid Gower. They were married for time and eternity on June 4, 1947, in the St. George Temple. She was a life long member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and held many callings over the years, one of her favorites being ward chorister. Lewen loved music and singing and had a beautiful voice. She had chosen the musical numbers for her funeral many years ago.She was a devoted stay-at-home wife and homemaker to Reid and supported him as he worked in the construction field. She was a devoted mother to the five children she was never supposed to even have because of contracting rheumatic fever as a young girl.Her home and family were her pride and joy and kept both neat as a pin. Her yard was always well-groomed. She was a wonderful cook and enjoyed having her family around to share in her meals. We will truly miss her Christmas cinnamon rolls.For many years she enjoyed working at the polls on Election Day. She and Reid had five children who survive her: Steven (Lorna), Stewart (Becky), Connel (Bernice), Cindy Gower Tait and Mark (Traci). She had 19 grandchildren and 32 great grandchildren and all were the joy of her life. She spent many hours with all of them and always had treats for them when they came to visit or help her with tasks that needed to be done. She remembered each and every one on their birthdays and at Christmas.She never missed a ball game, birthday, baptism, recital, birth or chance to babysit. She was an expert on burping babies and filling bellies.She was preceded in death by her loving husband, Reid, her parents and brother, Lavell, who died as an child and by her sister, Norma Hodean, who passed away just 14 months ago.Funeral services will be held Monday, May 9, 2011 at 11:00 a.m. at the Cedar LDS Fourth Ward Chapel, 500 West 400 North, Cedar City, Utah. Viewings will be held Sunday, May 8, 2011 from 6:00 - 8:00 p.m. at Southern Utah Mortuary, 190 North 300 West, Cedar City, Utah and on Monday from 9:30 a.m. - 10:30 a.m., also at the mortuary prior to the funeral service. Internment will be at the Cedar City Cemetery, all under the direction of the Southern Utah Mortuary.