Frances Kahlstorf Gowdy

FRANCES KAHLSTORF GOWDY Tupelo - Frances Kahlstorf Gowdy went peacefully to be with her Lord on December 6 2014, at North Mississippi Medical Center. She was born in Cleveland, Mississippi February 26, 1918, to the late William and Lula Brannon. She moved to Greenville, Mississippi at the age of 13. Frances graduated from Greenville High School in 1938 and married her high school sweetheart, Skovel Kahlstorf. During WWII, she worked as a telephone operator. She and Skovel raised three sons David, Bill, and Jack Kahlstorf. She later worked as a secretary for Mohasco Carpets where she retired after twenty-five years of service. Frances and Skovel were founding members of The Church of the Open Door in Greenville where she taught children's Sunday School for forty years. She possessed a sweet spirit of contentment. She loved the Lord, her family and her Church. She was an accomplished seamstress and loved sewing for her grandchildren. Frances was known for her love of flowers and loved working in her flower beds. Her husband Skovel passed away in 1976. In 1981, she married Willard Gowdy. In 1995, they moved to Tupelo where they became members and enjoyed the fellowship of Calvary Baptist Church. She was preceded in death by son, Dr. Jack Kahlstorf; husbands, Skovel Kahlstorf and Willard Gowdy; her parents, William H Brannon and Lula Estelle Brannon; sister, Georgia Childress; brother, William Brannon; daughter-in-law, Mary Ellen Kahlstorf. She is survived by two sons, David Kahlstorf (Ouida) of Jackson and Dr. Bill Kahlstorf (Meachie) of Tupelo. She is further survived by daughter-in-law, Janet Kahlstorf of Tupelo, eight grandchildren and fifteen great-grandchildren. She is also survived by two step-children, Willard Gowdy and Lynn Byrd and two step-grandchildren. Graveside services will be 1 p.m. Saturday, December 13, 2014, with Rev. Phil Wilkerson officiating in Greenville at Greenville Memorial Cemetery on Main Street. Visitation will be 4 - 6 p.m. Friday, December 12, 2014 at W. E. Pegues Funeral Home, Tupelo. Memorials may be made to Calvary Baptist Church Building Fund, 501 W. Main Street, Tupelo, MS 38804 and Sanctuary Hospice House, 5159 W. Main Street, Tupelo, MS 38803.