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Lee A. McKowen Lee (Nichols)
McKowen, 89 of Leola, Pennsylvania died peacefully at home in her sleep on
December 31st. She will be
dearly missed by her loving family. Lee
was the daughter of the late Herman & Grace (Ellenberger) Nichols of Indiana,
Pennsylvania and grew up on her parents' horse farm raising horses and training
under her father's tutelage to be a sulky driver. She raced for Hanover Shoe Farms among
others, including the great actor Jimmy Stewart's father. Lee's success on the track led to national
recognition as one of the top ten sulky drivers in the country, which was especially
significant since she was competing in what was traditionally a man's sport.
She met Robert
(Bob) McKowen when he covered her racing career as a sports reporter for the
former United Press, now UPI. The couple
married shortly thereafter and lived in Charleston, West Virginia, where Lee
put aside her riding crop and racing silks to start their family. They later
settled in Leola, PA where they raised their five children.
Lee and Bob
had a life-long passion for dogs and raised numerous champion German Short
Haired Pointers. In later years, Lee and
Bob traveled the world to attend the AKC World Agility Competitions. Of all her travels, Lee considered Ireland to
be her favorite country to visit. Lee's
other passion was her grandchildren. She
particularly enjoyed watching them compete in their various sports.
Lee was
preceded in death by her beloved husband Bob, after sharing 65 years of
marriage and also by her brother Harold and granddaughter Laura. She is survived by her five children and
their spouses: Dr. Bob McKowen and Cassie McKowen, Mitzi Perry, Jackie and Mike
Summers, John and Cindy McKowen, Pat and Jenell McKowen; and by her nine
grandchildren; Alex, Amanda, Stephen, Matt, Madison, Maddie, Chase, Cole and
Ryan, along with a great grandson, Charlie. She is also survived by her sister, Pat Clark of Ocala, Florida.
A viewing will
be held from 10-11:00 A.M. on Saturday, January 7th at Grace Church
Shrewsbury, 473 Plank Road, New Freedom, PA followed by a funeral service at
11:00 A.M.
In lieu of
flowers, contributions may be made to the Make a Wish Foundation and the Leola
Library.
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