Elaine McGowan

It is with great sorrow that we share the passing of Elaine Hegwood McGowan, Aiken, SC on January 7, 2025. Born in Shreveport, LA, Elaine was the sixth of 9 children born to Hoye & Marjorie Hegwood . When Elaine was eight, the family relocated to Handsboro, MS where she attended Handsboro Elementary School, East Side Junior High and was a 1962 graduate of Gulfport High School.

After graduation, she was married and from that marriage gave birth to her son, Michael Wayne Donovan, and daughter Monica Lynn Rigdon. Being a military spouse, she moved many times over the next few years. She returned to Shreveport with Michael and Monica and began her career in the corporate world at Pickett Food Services. Here she met Kirk McGowan, and they were married on December 3, 1983. During their 41 years together, their careers took them to several states until they settled in Texas where Elaine was the Director of Human Resources for the Ft. Worth Zoo. It was here that she studied and achieved her SHRM -CP accreditation. After 20 years at the Zoo, she began working for Guaranty Bank as the Human Resource Director for several of their locations in East Texas. Upon Kirk’s retirement, Elaine and Kirk moved to Aiken, SC.

Though she worked full time for most of her life, Elaine enjoyed using her creative talents in all aspects of her life. Whether it was cooking, baking, decorating, fashion, event planning, gardening…she had a stylish flair in it all! She enjoyed being active and “retirement” was a word that really never fit her! She was always busy and involved in her community. She enjoyed being part of the Women of Woodside functions, playing Golf (she never let us forget that “hole-in-one”) and pickleball. Her favorite past-time involved gardening. She served as Chairperson of the Woodside Garden Club and later as Co-Chair of the Aiken Garden Club. Her love of the garden led to Monarch butterfly breeding and a passion for the Monarchy Butterfly Society. She also enjoyed the neighborhood book club, and Mahjong.

She leaves to cherish her memory, her loving husband, Kirk McGowan, son, Michael (Ann) Donovan, daughter, Monica Rigdon (Junior); stepson, Scott McGowan; stepdaughter, Heather McGowan grandchildren, Adam (Ashley) Rigdon, Holly Donovan, Ethan Donovan; great grandchildren, Adelyn, Holt & Ella Rigdon; Sisters, Shirley Hegwood, Linda Guffey, Carolyn Stewart (Phil), Janette Godfrey (Jim); Brother, Mel Hegwood (Barbara). She is also survived by many nieces and nephews.

Elaine was preceded in death by her mother, Marjorie Hegwood, and Father, Hoye Hegwood; Sisters, Barbara Ann Hegwood and LaFern Baker and her brother, Calvin Hegwood.

A memorial service will be held at a later date.

The family requests all remembrances be made to the Aiken Symphony at: https://aikensymphony.com/