On June 8, 2023, Linnie Louisa (Thompson) (Wheeler) McGowen finally won her long battle with Parkinson's Disease, shed the frustrating confines of her body, soared jubilantly up to Heaven, saw Jesus face-to-face, and was reunited with loved ones and friends.  She had waited a long time and had struggled to be patient.  She had fought the good fight.

Linnie had much to be thankful for during her time here.  She was born on February 25, 1929, in Eudora, Missouri.  She lived with her mother (Pauline Edith (McCulley) Thompson) and father (Alvin William Thompson) with her 2 brothers (Allen Leon "Buck" Thompson and William Raydean "Pete" Thompson), and 2 sisters (Grace Anna (Thompson) Yokley and Hannah Mae (Thompson) Vest).  She loved her mom and dad and spoke often of what wonderful parents they were.  She loved her brothers and sisters and told many stories of her time growing up such as watching her mother wash clothes by the spring and how she and her sisters would get in trouble for riding the milk cows out in the pasture. Apparently, milk cows go really fast when someone (in this case, Hannah Mae) twists their tails…and sometimes the cows would take their riders through the blackberry briars (Hannah Mae still giggles about that😊).

In 1947, after the Thompson family moved to California, Linnie met and married Wilbur Eugene Wheeler (deceased).  Together they developed a business building truck cab-over campers and Linnie coined the name "HitchHiker" which is still in use today. To this union 3 sons and 1 daughter were born. Linnie loved and lived for her children. In 1963, at age 34, Linnie accepted Jesus as her Savior and her relationship with Jesus became the guiding force in her life. In 1967 Linnie returned to Eudora and served her Lord as a member of Eudora Baptist Church for 56 years.

While working at Sears, Linnie met and married Arlie "Mac" McGowen in April 1973.  He was the love of her life. Together, they served as Sunday School teachers.  Linnie served as a children's Sunday School teacher for many, many years.  Linnie loved each one of her "Sunday School kids".  She watched them grow up, get married, have children/grandchildren; watched them struggle, grieved at their loss.  She prayed for them all and was so honored when some would stop and say hi or send her a Christmas card.  Linnie and Mac were married for 32 happy years until his passing in May 2005.

Linnie is preceded in death by her parents (Alvin and Pauline), her brothers (Buck and Pete), one sister (Grace), one grandchild (Daniel Louis), and three nephews (Tony, Wade, and Ronnie).  She is survived by one sister (Hannah Mae), four children and 11 grandchildren: Dennis Wheeler (Josephine) of Hawaii and grandchildren Stephanie Wheeler De Iongh (Byron), Robert Combs Wheeler, Deanna Wheeler Neerings (Russell), and Linnsey Wheeler (fiancé Ethan). Bruce Wheeler (Karen) of North Carolina and grandchildren Melanie Wheeler Trotter (Chris) and Kimberlee Wheeler Mason (Terry) Dana Wheeler (Margo) of Springfield and grandchildren Rachele Pendergrass (Michael), Amanda Wheeler Boes (Mat), and David Wheeler. Jeanne Cook (Lowell) of Eudora and grandchildren Stephen Cook and Jacob Cook. Linnie is also survived by 18 great grandchildren, 3 great, great grandchildren, nieces and nephews, great nieces and great nephews, other family, and friends (you all know who you are and how much she cared about you).  We will all remember and be influenced by Linnie (Mom, Grandma, Grandma Linnie, Aunt Linnie, Linnie Lou) for years to come. Please know that she loved you all dearly, she loves you still, and that she is not really gone.

Visitation will be from 10:00AM until service time, Tuesday, June 13, 2023, at Eudora Baptist Church, Eudora, MO. Funeral services will begin at 11:00AM, at the church, with burial to follow at Pleasant Ridge Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Jacob's Ladder End of Life Care and may be left with or mailed to the funeral home, Wilson-Griffin Funeral Home, PO Box 217, Ash Grove, MO 65604.