Francis "Pat" McGow

Francis “Pat” McGow was born on July 2, 1934 to Francis and Mary McGow in Highland, Illinois. His father was a mortician. His mother was a schoolteacher. He had a younger brother, John Michael McGow, who died at age 15 from a hunting accident which was a loss that stayed with Pat for his entire life. Pat graduated from Highland High School, attended the University of Illinois, and graduated from Southern Illinois University with a Bachelor’s degree in Business. Soon after graduating from college, he enlisted in the United States Army and served his country while stationed at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri. He met his wife and best friend Mary Ruth Groves at a dance in Gillespie, Illinois in 1953 and they were married in 1957. They enjoyed 64 years of marriage before her death in December 2021. They had three children: John Michael McGow (Lizy), Patrick McGow (Donna) and Megan Crays (John), with seven grandchildren: Alec, Zachary (deceased), Ashley, Devyn, Connor, Anakin and Quinn, and one great granddaughter: Mia all of whom brought him great pride and joy. After leaving the Army, Pat worked for Goodyear Tire Company before joining Ford Motor Company. He spent over 30 years with Ford Motor Company in various sales and management positions in the St. Louis, Missouri District Sales Office and Detroit. In 1982, he and his family moved to Plymouth, Michigan where he lived for the past 40 years. Pat was a proud and loyal Ford employee and he always wore his blue oval pin on his suits even after retirement. He was an avid reader who loved World War II history books and films. He shared his love of WWII films and Dracula films with his children. He was a gun collector and deer hunter who looked forward to his hunting trips to Missouri each fall. He enjoyed dinners and drinks with friends and family, especially the summer camping trips in Missouri in the early years and winters in Marco Island, Florida later in life. He was a dedicated husband and caregiver to his wife, especially in the last decade when she battled debilitating ailments and dementia. The care he gave to her was inspiring as theirs was a true love affair. Pat enjoyed good health for most of his 88 years. He passed away in his sleep on Saturday, November 5th after a brief battle with cancer. There will be a Memorial Visitation Wednesday, November 16th from 4-7 PM at Vermeulen-Sajewski Funeral Home, 46401 Ann Arbor Road West (between Sheldon and Beck) Plymouth. He will be in state Thursday, November 17th 9:30 AM until the 10:00 AM Funeral Mass at Our Lady of Good Counsel Catholic Church, 47650 North Territorial Road, Plymouth. To share a memory, please use the Share a Memory tab on this webpage.

Francis "Pat" McGow

July 2, 1934 - November 5, 2022