Dwane Cleo Scowden, 82, passed away Saturday, Oct. 6, 2018.
He was born Sept. 26, 1936, in Sturdivant, son of Oren P. and Anna Simmers Harris Scowden. He and Joan Lacewell were married in 1958. He later married his wife Shirley on July 6, 1974.
He attended grade school in a small country school in Sturdivant and graduated from Zalma High School, where he excelled in basketball. Upon graduation, he went to St. Louis to work in order to help his mother support his siblings.
He worked in the southeast Missouri area building and repairing homes until he was hired by the USDA as a construction inspector. In 1973, he was transferred to Houston, where he met his wife Shirley. He was transferred to Carthage, where he continued working for the USDA until his retirement.
While his wife remained in Houston as the children finished high school, he commuted each weekend from Carthage to Houston. After she moved to Carthage in 1977, they were members of First Baptist Church of Carthage until 2007, when they joined Diamond First Baptist Church. They enjoyed serving as greeters at the church. He served on different committees in the church, including the building committee.
After he retired from the USDA, he stayed busy doing handyman jobs for people in the area.
He and Shirley enjoyed many years playing golf at Center Creek Golf Course, where he served as president of the board. They loved playing in tournaments and going on trips with other golfing friends to play at a variety of courses.
He was preceded in death by his parents; two sisters, Margaret White and Barbara Jo Shell; and four brothers, Floyd and Lloyd Harris and Donald and Dwight Scowden.
Survivors include his wife, Shirley, of the home; a son, David, of Reeds; two stepchildren, Ginger Copeland of Alba and Brad Rees of Houston; nine grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; two sisters, Shirley (Bucky) McCullough and Rachel Carlton of Advance; a brother, Bobby Joe Scowden of Jackson; as well as many nieces, nephews and friends.
Services were Tuesday, Oct. 9, at First Baptist Church, Diamond, with Pastor Ron Crow officiating. Graveside services followed in Pine Lawn Cemetery, Houston. Services were under the direction of Mason-Woodard Mortuary & Crematory, Joplin.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions are suggested to First Baptist Church Building Fund, PO Box 206, Diamond, Mo., 64840.
