The only child of Nuna and Murray McGowen Sr., Murray "Butchie" McGowen, throughout his life, brought a smile to everyone he knew.

On Thursday, December 4, 2008, Murray McGowen passed after courageously battling kidney problems for several years.

Born in Oakland in 1950, Murray was baptized at Beacon Light Seventh-day Adventist Church in Richmond.

He was a graduate of Oakland High School, attended California State University Hayward and worked at Fisher Laboratories in Oakland. During the late 1970's, Murray moved to Seattle, Washington and worked for the Burlington Railroad Company as a Journeyman Machinist and raised a large loving family of 7 children and 8 grandchildren.

He was a huge baseball fan, had adopted the Seattle Mariners as his home team and was particularly thrilled when All Star pitcher, Jamie Moyen and his wife visited with him in the hospital's kidney dialysis unit.

A man of many talents, Murray was a rare coin officianado, and was always impeccably dressed all the way down to his signature two toned "Staci Adams" shoes. His upbeat style and infections [sic] spirit brightened all the lives around him.

Butchie's smile and laughter will never be forgotten, stated his uncle, Bishop D.J. Williams, Pastor at Wings of Love Ministries, Oakland, CA.