It is with great sorrow that the family of Hugh Patrick (Mac) McCowen announce his passing on November 27, 2024. He was born on December 28, 1939 to Agnes Mary O’Donohue and William Harold McCowen the 2nd of 3 children. He attended St. Aloysius Grade School and graduated from De La Salle High School in Kansas City, Missouri. He attended trade school for a year and worked for American Plumbing for several years before starting his own plumbing company, Apple Valley Plumbing, working for more than 50 years. He enjoyed working his trade and meeting new people from all over Kansas City.
He met and married his high school sweetheart Genie Hodes and they had 5 beautiful children. He raised his children with a firm but loving hand, and was a devoted Husband, Father, Grandfather and Great Grandfather also known as Poppa.
He was preceded in death by his wife Genie in April 2018, his parents, and his sister Mary Ann Tilton. He leaves his 5 children: son; Patrick, daughters; Diane Kusman, Mariane Watkins, Carrie Kline (Rich) and Katie Orscheln. He also leaves 10 grandchildren; Jason, Lisa, Emily, Christie, Katy, Riley, Ryan, Michael, Ashley, Alex, 10 great- grandchildren: Easton, Ella Kate, Annie, Charlie, Noah, Luca, Hudson, Henry, Freddie and another great granddaughter due in April. He also leaves his brother Michael J McCowen.
He was active in his children’s formative years as a manager and coach of girls softball teams. He was a member of the Cure’ of Ars Parish for greater than 50 years, and was a member of the Parish Council. He was active at Bishop Miege High School, assisting with fund raising efforts, and the auction. He was a Bishop Miege School Board member, and later President of the School Board in the late 1970’s.
He loved to travel with Genie as they made many pilgrimages to Ireland his favorite place on earth. He took each of his children and several of his grandchildren to Ireland to teach them about their roots, share his knowledge, and introduce them to their distant relatives.
He was also a parishioner at St. Patrick Catholic Church in Laurie, Missouri for 50 + years. Many memorable summer family weekends were spent at the McCowen Lake home as the children were growing up, his second favorite place on earth. After Genie’s passing, he retired to his lake home in Sunrise Beach, Missouri.
He never met a stranger and touched many lives with his Irish humor and wit. Faith, family and friends were the words he lived by. Recently, he told friends and family the he lived a blessed life and couldn’t ask for more.
The Family would like to thank the staff at Ascend Hospice especially Shannon, Kim, Jordan, and Kirsten who helped the family during the last days of his illness.
The Rosary will be Thursday December 5th at 9:30 am, the Visitation at 10:00 am followed by the Mass of Christian Burial at 11:00 am all at Cure’ of Ars Catholic Church 9405 Mission Rd. Leawood, Kansas.
In lieu of flowers donations may be made to: Sisters, Servants of Mary Kansas City, KS, Bishop Miege High School; Cure’ of Ars; or St. Patrick Church in Laurie, Missouri.