Brenda McGowan

Brenda McGowan lived life to the fullest creating a better world for all. Her days were filled with adventure and an enthusiasm that radiated to those fortunate enough to cross her path.

She was raised in a tiny town in Maryland and spent her childhood in humble surroundings. Brenda found opportunities to move forward working odd jobs and put herself through nursing school in Delaware. It was there that she began a lifelong quest to see and experience the world around her.

From camping across the country after graduating from nursing school to Idaho, California and Oregon, Brenda was always on the move. Along the way, she learned to ski, hike, climb mountains, ride horses, brand cattle and fly fish. Brenda met her husband, Bill at the Pendleton Round Up on a trip to Alaska. They married and honeymooned in Loreto, Mexico. Brenda was so taken with the local people she spent years raising money to support local families with dental care and scholarships for children.

In addition to education, Brenda worked tirelessly on environmental issues. She and some friends founded the Prescott Bluebird Recovery project in the Willamette Valley. The effort resulted in the bird going from "threatened" to "sensitive" list, thanks to Brenda and many devoted volunteers. Oregon Field Guide did a segment on the recovery project in 2009.

Brenda relied on OPB to keep her connected and expand her view of the world. She was a fan of OPB's travel and drama programs and loved Oregon Field Guide. She also enjoyed listening to OPB radio to catch the news of the day and was a faithful listener to Fresh Air with Terry Gross. Brenda was a member for three decades and valued the service so much that she included OPB in her estate along with many other charitable organizations.

OPB is grateful for Brenda's commitment to OPB during her lifetime and her generous gift to OPB in her will. In fact, most of Brenda's assets were distributed to charities and continued her legacy of creating a better world.