Margaret Williams-McGowan

Margaret Williams-McGowan, 74, of Harmony, an award-winning pastel artist, passed away Friday at UPMC Passavant.

She was born July 14, 1942, in Sewickley, to the late Carl and Reva Jane Taggart Williams Smith.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Jack McGowan; her sisters, Dorothy Williams and Marjorie Jean Neff, who died 12 hours earlier on Thursday.

She was well-loved by her cousins, Lucy (Steve) White of Florida, Annette (Allen) Moulton of Sewickley and Rachel (Dave) Martin of Lancaster. She was the aunt of James “JT” Neff of Eugene, Ore.; and the great-aunt to Luyu Neff.

A longtime resident of Harmony, she was a working artist with her studio in her home. She studied both commercial and fine art.

She spent more than 25 years as a retail advertising artist, working in such diversified fields as ad agencies, newspaper, direct-mail publications and large department store chains, including nine years at Gimbels Pittsburgh, also for the Pennysaver paper.

She was a member of the Degas Pastel Society of New Orleans and the Women's Artist of the West, and she was a signature member of the Pastel Painters Society of Cape Cod.

Her art has appeared in the Equine Image Magazine in conjunction with the prestigious AAEA Fall Showcase of Equine Art.

She was a finalist in the animal category of the Artist's Magazine in 1997 Annual Art Competition, and she also received numerous awards at national and international exhibitions including, Best of Show.

Margaret loved and adored her Pekinese dogs.

WILLIAMS-MCGOWAN — Visitation for Margaret Williams-McGowan, who died Friday, Feb. 24, 2017, will be for both sisters from 2 to 4 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m. Thursday at the Copeland's Sewickley, 702 Beaver St., where services will be at 2 p.m. Friday with the Rev. Bill Henry officiating. Burial will be private at the Sewickley Cemetery.Family welcomes flowers or, if desired, suggests donations in her name to Animal Friends or the Beaver County Humane Society.