Gary Allen Vowels, age 81, of Charleston, MO, died Saturday, May 24, 2025, at the Chateau Girardeau in Cape Girardeau, MO.

Born December 20, 1943, in Cairo, IL, to Clifford. E. Vowels and Marcelle Barnbook Vowels, Gary grew up in Alfalfa Center in rural Mississippi County, Missouri and graduated from St. Henry Catholic High School. He attended the University of Mississippi and returned to Charleston to farm the family land.

On January 29, 1963, Gary married his high school sweetheart, Shirley Jean Cox. Together they have two sons and five grandchildren.

A lifelong resident of Charleston and faithful member of St. Henry Parish, Gary loved farming, hunting, fishing, and summers at Kentucky Lake as well as Jack's Fork and Current River. He greatly enjoyed cooking and grilling for everyone and will always be remembered by family and friends for his infectious laugh.

Surviving is his wife of 62 years, Shirley Cox Vowels; his two sons, Daren (Kim) Vowels and Scott (Melissa) Vowels; his five beloved grandchildren, Haleigh Vowels, Lauren Vowels (Jack) Essner, Adeline Vowels, Slaten Vowels, and Declan Vowels; also, nieces, nephews and several cousins.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his brothers, Clifford Hugh Vowels, Father G. Timothy Vowels and Richard Dennis Vowels.

Visitation will be from 9:30 a.m. until the funeral mass at 11:00 a.m., Thursday, May 29, 2025, at the St. Henry Catholic Church in Charleston. The Rev. David Dohogne, pastor, will serve as celebrant.

Interment will follow in the I.O.O.F. Cemetery near Charleston under the direction of the McMikle Funeral Home of Charleston.

Pallbearers will be Declan Vowels, Slaten Vowels, Matt Vowels, Russell Streng, Michael Jones and James Marshall.

In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests memorials be made to St. Henry Catholic Church, 304 Court Street, Charleston, MO 63834 or to St. Henry Catholic School, 306 Court Street, Charleston, MO 63834.

Online condolences may be shared at www.mcmiklefuneralhome.com.