Mary Lee Gowland

Mary Lee maintained a good sense of humor throughout her life moving to Kerrville, Texas, in 2010 from Coarsegold, California. Within her first year, she established Hill Country Poets, taught creative writing at Club Ed and in children’s programs, and met her beloved husband, Joe Conklin.

Up until recently Mary Lee served as treasurer of Friends of the Butt-Holdsworth Memorial library, assisted Art2Heart after school programs, participated in the Butt-Holdsworth Memorial Library teen workshop, worked with the Kerr Legacy Christian Academy, Tom Daniels Elementary and Ray and Joan Kroc Center, and also taught adult poetry workshops. She had recently completed the second volume of her memoirs along with a book of poems inspired by writing prompts.

Mary Lee was born In Los Angeles, California, and grew up during the 1960s in Santa Monica Canyon. She attended Palisades High school in Los Angeles, California, and loved every minute of those tumultuous years. She came from a highly creative family: her grandfather, Gibson Gowland, was an actor in the golden years of Hollywood while her parents, Peter and Alice Gowland, were esteemed glamour photographers who photographed some of the biggest stars of the period. Mary Lee’s own work included thousands of poems and three published poetry books blurbed by Henry Miller and Anais Nin among others. Able to move easily between her past and present, Mary Lee maintained friendships going as far back as the second grade. She kept extensive diaries and letters from the 1960's through the present day.

Mary Lee was active in community theater and loved musicals and the challenges of her own personal growth. While still living in California, Mary Lee volunteered with the Madera County Arts Council in elementary schools, the middle school, Vision Academy of the Arts Summer Art Camp, and was a leader in Poetry Out Loud, which she coordinated for six high schools. She supported the Fresno County Library, Friends of the Oakhurst Library, and the Positive living Center of Central California.

Mary Lee is survived by her husband Joe Conklin of Kerrville, Texas;, sister, Ann Macmillan of San Francisco, California; and nieces, Tracey Rosnethal-Newsom of Ashville, North Carolina and Lauren Macmillan Kahler of Los Angeles.

Mary Lee’s family wishes to express their admiration for the entire Peterson Hospital Hospice team for providing professional and personal support. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests a donation to the charity of your choice.

Mary Lee’s motto was to ride life's changes like a wobbly body surfer. She said, “When I'm swept under the waves, I dog paddle a while, take a deep breath, and continue on.”