Marcia Alice Chown, 92, of Lometa died on June 6, 2022, at Goldthwaite Health and Rehab after a long illness. She lived in Lometa the past 26 years and moved there to be closer to family.
She had served as a Lometa City Council member at one time and was a member of the Lometa L-M Garden and Civic Club, as well as the garden clubs of Goldthwaite and San Saba.
Marcia was the daughter of Samuel and Josephine McMullan. She grew up in Downers Grove, Illinois.
Her love for travel began with her parents who road-tripped across the United States, Canada and Mexico. She would talk about riding in the banana boats in Mexico and stuffing herself with the best bananas. She also learned to love horses and dogs in her childhood, plus she developed a love for growing flowers and vegetables.
Marcia married William H. Chown on Sept. 1, 1951, and traveled a bit more with him during his time in the Navy. Pearl Harbor was her first experience in Hawaii, and she traveled back to the islands many times.
They finally settled in Albuquerque, New Mexico, and raised a son and a daughter there.
She also became a nurse, a National Rose Society judge and a National Flower Show judge. She traveled around many states to judge rose and flower shows.
Marcia ended up nursing in many emergency rooms and nursing homes in Albuquerque, but her love for travel called her to India, Africa, Europe, Russia and South America. She lived a full life, and no one could compare to her gardening skills and knowledge.
She leaves behind a daughter, Teresa K. Stewart and husband James Stewart of Lometa; a son, Matthew N. Chown of Tijeras, New Mexico; grandson, Joshua W. Stewart and wife Whitney of Corpus Christi; three greatgranddaughters, Abigail Stewart, Gwendolyn Stewart and Nora Stewart; and a greatgrandson, Gavin Stewart.
Donations in her memory may be made to the animal rescue facility of one’s choice.
Sneed-Carnley Funeral Chapel has charge of cremation arrangements. The family will gather at a later date to spread her ashes in the mountains of New Mexico.
