CARLA GOWEN's Obituary
FORT VALLEY –
Carla Beatrice Shy Gowen passed away on January 11, 2026, after an extended illness, at the age of 75. Funeral Services will be held on Friday, January 16, 2026, at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Perry. Visitation will be held from 10:00 until 11:00 a.m., and the funeral will begin at 11:00 a.m. with Bishop Wesley Evans officiating. Interment will be in Oak Lawn Cemetery in Fort Valley.
Carla was born on June 16, 1950, in Fort Valley, Georgia, to the late James Carlton Shy Jr. and the late Carolyn Stuart Anness Shy. In 1968, Carla graduated from Fort Valley High School, married the next week, and turned 18 the following week. Between 1968 and 1987, she traveled with her husband while he served in the United States Army. Other than the one year when Ed was in Vietnam, the couple traveled together, spending time in New Jersey; Pirmasens and Nuremberg, Germany, where their son Zac was born; Key West, Florida; Fort Sheridan, Illinois, Fort Shafter, Hawaii, and finally Fort Lee, Virginia. During those years, Carla continued her education at Saint Leo University, Florida Keys Community College, the University of Hawaii, and several other places. In 1987, the family returned to Fort Valley, where she spent the remainder of her life.
Carla was an active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, serving in many callings in the Relief Society and Primary organizations. She loved participating in community theater and enjoyed crocheting, sewing, and putting together puzzles. She worked as a detective with the Fort Valley Police Department for 10 years and later served two terms as a City Councilwoman for the City of Fort Valley. She was passionate about genealogy, and she and her husband took classes through BYU–Idaho to further their family history work. Carla was active in Kiwanis, serving two terms as President of the Fort Valley Kiwanis. She was intensely patriotic and loved any décor that reflected her love of country.
Carla was preceded in death by her parents; her sisters, Patricia Bartlett and Betsy Ann Shy; and her brothers, James Carlton Shy II and James Mallard Shy.
She leaves behind her loving and devoted husband of 57 years, Edward J. Gowen Jr.; her son, Edward Z. “Zac” Gowen (Katrina); and her four grandchildren, Emily Gowen, Erin Gowen Smith (Brandon), Jillan Gowen, and Jakob Gowen.
Condolences for the family may be left in the online guestbook at www.watsonhunt.com. Watson-Hunt Funeral Home has been entrusted with the arrangements.
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