Bill "Happy Jack" McGowan, 66, of Madisonville, KY passed away on Saturday, April 11, 2015 at Baptist Health Madisonville.

He was born on June 28, 1948 in Madisonville, KY to the late Arnold McGowan. Bill was a United States Army Veteran and was formerly a coal miner with Warrior Coal Company. He was a member of New Good Hope Church in Mannington, KY. In addition to his father he was preceded in death by his grandmother, Lorene Skaggs.

He is survived by his wife of forty-one years, Helen McGowan; sons, B.J. (Abbie) McGowan of Slaughters, KY and Jesse McGowan, Sr. of Madisonville; daughters, Kelly Campbell, Kristy Catlett both of Indianapolis, IN, Beverly Oldham and April Akers both of Illinois; sisters, Angie Townsend, Arlinda Utley, Janet Haase, Karen Whithorne and Tammy Pergande; brothers, Mark Dickerson and Mike McGowan; fifteen grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.

Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m. on Wednesday, April 15, 2015 in the chapel of Harris Funeral Home in Madisonville with Bro. Larry Phaup officiating. Burial to follow at Odd Fellows Cemetery in Madisonville.

Visitation will be from 4 p.m. until 7 p.m. Tuesday and from 11 a.m. until the funeral hour Wednesday at Harris Funeral Home.

Pallbearers will be Dale Jones, Lawrence Kinney, Jesse McGowan, Jr., Darrin Parker, Jesse McGowan, Sr., and B.J. McGowan. Honorary pallbearers will be Seth Blades and Katelyn McGowan.