Funeral services for Wanda Elizabeth Lyles McGowen will be held on Sat, Oct. 7, 2017 at 11 AM at the Trinity Episcopal Church, 941 Bayou Rd, Cheneyville, La, with Rev. Keith Uffman officiating. Interment will be in Trinity Episcopal Cemetery. Arrangements are under the direction of Hixson Brothers Funeral Home of Alexandria. Visitation will be held at Hixson Brothers from 5-9 on Fri October 6, 2017.

Pallbearers honored to serve are Ian Gresham, Jed Gresham, Harold E. McGowen IV, Weston McGowen, Paul Eakin Jr. and Scott Uffman. Honorary Pallbearers are George H. Lyles, Kurt Culbertson, Bobby Lyles and Lamar White, Jr.

Wanda, or “Betty” as she was known by many, was born Jan 28, 1924 and entered eternal rest on Monday, October 2, at the age of 93. Wanda was a resident of Alexandria and was busy and productive throughout her long and interesting life.

Wanda was a creative, strong willed and independent woman who lived her life on her own terms. She was also a loving wife, mother, grandmother and great grandmother. Wanda started her work career as a young girl, helping her father Sam Lyles at the cotton gin in Cheneyville, La. After attending LSU in Baton Rouge, she worked in marketing in the oil and gas industry in Houston, Tx. She worked at Camco Incorporated, an oil field equipment manufacturer, in a variety of roles, ranging from creating advertising, annual reports, training materials and catalogs to designing booths for the company’s trade shows.

Widely known and respected for her creativity and innovation, Wanda traveled the world for business and pleasure, often with her husband Harold E. McGowen Jr., visiting many countries including England, Scotland, Ireland, Germany, France, Mexico, Costa Rica and Guatemala.

She participated in business junkets to Russia before the fall of the Iron Curtain. She went deep into the African wilderness on Safari with Harold in the 1960’s for over a month, collecting many interesting artifacts along the way. Wanda had a passion for history and became an expert on antiques, which led to her founding the “The Ant & the Grasshopper” tea room and antique shop in Houston, the first of many entrepreneurial ventures.

Wanda was a gifted decorator and beautified many homes and offices over the years, continuing to assist friends and family with their homes right up until the night she passed away. She restored the antebellum plantation house Walnut Grove near Cheneyville, even opening it up as beautiful wedding venue. Wanda was known to be a fantastic cook and in her younger days held elegant dinner parties.

Wanda lived a rich and full life, reaching out a helping hand to many people in need every step of the way. Wise, funny, dry-witted, enthusiastic, strong, feisty, loving...she was all these things. She is gone from this earth but will never be forgotten.

Wanda was preceded in death by her husband, Harold E. McGowen Jr., parents, Samuel and Myrtle Lyles, sons, James Farley Wall and Karl F. McGowen.

Those left to cherish her memory include children, David Lyles Wall, Judith Wall Gresham (husband Clay), and Harold E. McGowen III (wife Diane) and grandchildren, Ian Lyle Gresham (wife Elaine), Jed McGowen Gresham (wife Stephanie), Jenny Elizabeth Nash (husband Jeff), Weston Lyles McGowen, Maegan Elizabeth McGowen, Harold E. McGowen IV (wife Lauren).

Wanda enjoyed eight great grandchildren and many nieces and nephews. Wanda was also close to many of her extended family members, especially her cousin, George H. Lyles of Cheneyville.

Wanda’s surviving siblings are Manie Culbertson, Grace Uffman, Nancy Durham, and Catherine Coleman (husband Gerry). Wanda was predeceased by her siblings, Sue Eakin, William Lyles Sr., Joanne White and Samuel P. Lyles Jr.

Donations may be made in her memory to Trinity Episcopal Church, 941 Bayou Road, Cheneyville, LA 71325.