Sheila Mcgowan Shotwell

Mrs. Sheila McGowan Shotwell, 86, passed away on April 16, 2013 in Palm Springs of natural causes. Sheila was born in Barnoldswick, England to Patrick J. McGowan and Mary Ellen Kiernan McGowan on April 2, 1927. At the age of 3, she immigrated to the United States with her parents and was raised in Chicago IL and schooled at Sinsinawa Dominican College in Sinsinawa, WI. In 1947, she met her husband, Randolph K. Shotwell of Asheville, NC, moved to the South, and in 1958 settled in Birmingham, AL.

Sheila was the owner/operator of the original "Pat's Pub" in Birmingham in the 1970's. In the late 70's she became a travel agent specializing in cruises and shortly after, became a co-owner of a travel agency until the mid 90s. In 1999, after the death of her husband, she retired to Palm Springs, California.

Sheila was known and loved by countless friends and was the "life of every party". She is survived by her sons Randy Shotwell, Jeff Shotwell and son-in-law Scott Jones, all of Palm Springs, her daughter Patti Shotwell and son-in-law Homayoun Sarvestani, and one granddaughter, Alexandra Sarvestani, all of Cooper City FL.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial contributions be made to the 'Friends of the Palm Springs Animal Shelter', P.O. Box 4808, Palm Springs, CA 92263 (760) 323-8151, in honor of her little rescue dog "Lulu".

Private services will be held.

"Death leaves a heartache no one can heal... Love leaves a memory no one can steal" (shared with us by a friend)
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UPDATE: 19April2013/1240pm - Our thanks to each of you for your beautiful memorial tributes to our mom... she was a very special lady to us and it is comforting to know that she had such an impact on others as well! She will be missed! Hugs to all of you! Randy, Patti, Jeff and Alex