Carol Ann King McGowan went home to be with her Savior on November 17, 2024, at the age of 87 with her daughters by her side. She had lived independently until her health began to decline a year ago, prompting her move to Lincoln Meadows Senior Living.

Born on February 9, 1937, in Corpus Christi, Texas, to Ben Green King and Flora May Manney, Carol was the youngest of three children, with older siblings Bennie Nadine and Billie Glen, who were 16 and 14 years her senior, respectively. The family moved to Sabinal, Kerrville, and eventually Waco, Texas, where Carol graduated as salutatorian of her high school class. She went on to earn both her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in music from Baylor University. Following her graduation, Carol taught elementary school music in Victoria and Texas City, Texas. Her adventurous spirit led her to Colorado, where she worked as a summer camp counselor at Camp Cheley near Estes Park. Afterward, she chose to make Colorado her home, accepting a teaching position in Westminster.

While living in Westminster, she joined 1st Southern Baptist Church of Denver and was active in their young professionals’ group. It was here that she met the love of her life, Gerald “Jerry” Frank McGowan. One small complication arose during the start of their relationship when she accepted a marriage proposal from a Music Minister back in Texas. Fortunately, Jerry was convinced that they were divinely meant to be together and wrote letters to her, wooed her, and ultimately won her heart and hand. They were married on June 19, 1965. 

In 1977, they moved their young family of 3 girls (Lisa Marlene, Sheila Kay and Tricia Louise) to the small, one-stoplight town of Parker, CO. They enjoyed their home on 6 acres where they lived for 32 years when Jerry passed away from cancer. In 2013, Carol downsized to a smaller ranch house in the heart of Parker. 

In the early 1980s, Carol and Jerry were part of a small group of believers who answered an ad in the local paper to start a Bible-based church in the Parker area. This small group of believers dedicated countless hours of love, service and devotion helping to establish Parker Presbyterian Church, now known as Parker Evangelical Presbyterian Church (PEPC).

Music was at the heart of Carol’s life. Sharing her love of music was not only her life’s work, but also her life’s passion.  She began playing the organ and piano for church services as a young teenager in Kerrville, Texas, and continued to serve her community with the gift of music in every church she attended, including at Lincoln Meadows Senior Living, where she played until her passing.

Carol was a substitute music teacher in Douglas County until 2002 while teaching private piano lessons in her home to as many as 30 students in a given year. She only recently stopped teaching piano in her early 80’s.

Carol loved traveling, waterskiing, playing tennis, cards (Hearts, Spite and Malice), dominoes (Texas 42 and Mexican Train), exercising with friends at the Parker Rec Center, and shopping (especially for a good bargain)! She was exceptionally social and outgoing. She was never shy about striking up a conversation even with total strangers. 

Carol is survived by her daughters Lisa (husband Roberto Santonocito), Tricia (husband Greg Burleson), son-in-law Jeff Conoley; grandchildren Hannah Mullein and Sadie Fern Conoley, Charlie Trent Olson, Lorenzo Salvatore and Michael Gerald Santonocito, Lindsay Noel (Riley), Haley Justine, Caitlin Shelby and Nathaniel Scott Burleson. She was preceded in death by her parents, siblings, husband and daughter Sheila McGowan-Conoley.

Carol touched many lives through music, friendship and her faith in Jesus. Though she has passed from this life, we take comfort in knowing she is now very much alive with her Lord and Savior, for eternity in Heaven.

A Celebration of Life memorial service will be held on December 3, 2024, at 4:00 p.m. at Parker Evangelical Presbyterian Church, 9030 Miller Rd, Parker, CO 80138, with a light reception to follow.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made in Carol’s memory to the Carol McGowan Memorial Fund at Parker Evangelical Presbyterian Church.