Peggy Joyce McGirt Bowen February 10, 1955 – October 24, 2025

Peggy Joyce McGirt Bowen passed away on Saturday, October 24, 2025 at her home in Mount Vernon, Washington. She was born to Walter and Juanita McGirt on February 10, 1955, in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. She was a proud member of the Seminole Nation of Oklahoma and was also part of the Mvskoke Nation.

Peggy was a Classen High School alumna and one of the famous Classen Comets Majorettes. After graduation, she attended the Institute of American Indian Arts (IAIA) in New Mexico, where she met Jay Bowen. They later married and had four children. The family began their life together in Oklahoma City and then moved to Skagit Valley in 1989, where Peggy would later earn her Associate of Arts degree from Skagit Valley College.

When they first moved to Washington, Peggy would load the kids into her little car and take them for rides while their dad was at work. Dad had an open account at a small convenience store, so the kids piled up snacks before setting off for the day. Getting directions wasn't easy at first, they were transplants with thick southern accents but eventually Peggy learned her way around, and those spontaneous drives became a family tradition.

Peggy had a lifelong love of Oklahoma football! Many fall weekends were spent with her daughter Maranee, jumping up and down and screaming at the TV. When OU came to Seattle one year, they were there it was a great game, the Huskies lost, and Mom did her best little dog whimper afterward.

Peggy also loved making jewelry. She often stayed up late into the night with a cold Diet Coke (or several) nearby, while John, Paul, George, and Ringo sang to her in the background. When she wasn't making jewelry, she was watching her favorite K-dramas she even picked up some of the language! Peggy also enjoyed her time at all the Casino's, where she could play for hours and set aside her winnings to play again later.

Peggy shared a special relationship with each of her grandchildren. Since they were spread out in age, there were often little ones to cuddle and older ones to laugh with, giving her the gift of quality time with each of them.

Peggy had always wanted to see Paul McCartney live, and when he came to Seattle, she and Maranee were right there singing along to every song under the fireworks.

There are so many things we will miss about her, but we all know that the moment little Joe came to tell her it was time to go, she jumped up and went. She missed him every day for the last 17 years, and now they are together again.

Peggy is survived by her mother, Juanita McGirt of Okemah, Oklahoma; her daughters, Jennifer Bowen and her daughter Hillary Zachmeyer; Maranee (Jim) Washington and their daughter Kiahna Rodriguez, great-grandson Liam Rodriguez, and son Brett Bowen; Laholeetha (Brandon) Zachmeyer and their children Bentley and Allie Zachmeyer;  her sisters Martha McGirt, Beverly (Saleh) Ahmed, her little sister Karen (Bob) Gigo; as well as numerous nieces and nephews.

Peggy was preceded in death by her father, the Reverend Walter McGirt; her son, Joesph Bowen; and her nephew, Jason "Chebon" McGirt.

A Celebration of Peggy's Life will be held at 3:00, on Monday, November 3, 2025, at Lemley Chapel in Sedro-Woolley, following the service there will be a  fellowship dinner at the Upper Skagit Tribal Gym for all to join. Share your memories of Peggy and sign the online guest register.