Dwane Cleo Scowden, age 82, was welcomed into the outstretched arms of Jesus at 11:45 p.m. on October 6, 2018. Dwane was born September 26, 1936, to Oren P. Scowden and Anna Simmers Harris Scowden in Sturdivant, Missouri.

Dwane attended grade school in a small country school in Sturdivant and graduated from Zalma High School in Zalma, Missouri, where he excelled in basketball. He was always so proud of the many trophies he won as tournament MVP while playing basketball.

Dwane’s father was killed in an accident when Dwane was a sophomore in high school, and upon Dwane’s graduation from Zalma he went to St. Louis to work in order to help his mother support his siblings.

In 1958 Dwane married Joan Lacewell, and to this union was born Dwane David Scowden. Dwane worked in the southeast Missouri area building and repairing homes until he was hired by the USDA as a construction inspector.

In 1973 he was transferred to Houston, Missouri, and it was there he met his wife Shirley. Dwane and Shirley were married on July 6, 1974, and in November of that year, Dwane was transferred to Carthage, where he continued working for the USDA until his retirement.

Shirley remained in Houston while the children finished high school, and Dwane commuted each weekend from Carthage to Houston. After Shirley moved to Carthage in 1977, they were members of First Baptist Church of Carthage until 2007, when they joined Diamond First Baptist Church. Dwane and Shirley enjoyed serving as greeters at the church. Dwane always enjoyed meeting and greeting people as they came through the doors. He served on different committees in the church, including the building committee. He was always willing to help where there was a need in the church family or in the community.

After he retired from the USDA, he quickly became very busy doing handyman jobs for people in this area. He did good work at fair prices, and he and David spent many, many hours painting and repairing homes for his customers.

Dwane and Shirley enjoyed many years playing golf at Center Creek Golf Course, where Dwane served as president of the board. They loved playing in tournaments and going on trips with other golfing friends to play at a variety of courses. A highlight was a trip to Phoenix to play at the Legends course, and where they also took in a couple of St. Louis Cardinals games.

Dwane is survived by his wife, Shirley, of the home; son, David, of Reeds; stepchildren, Ginger (Bruce) Copeland of Alba and Brad (Stacey) Rees of Houston, Missouri; grandchildren, Doti Smith, Cody Smith, Kaitlyn Scowden, Cara (Chris) Morris, Brad Copeland, Elgin (Sarah) Rees, Rachel (Dustin) Kirkman, Madison and Hannah Dixon; and great-grandchildren, Delaney Smith, Daxon, Duke and Dawson Kirkman, Beckett and Macklin Morris. He is also survived by sisters Shirley (Bucky) McCullough and Rachel (Buck) Carlton of Advance, Missouri, and brother Bobby Joe (Teresa) Scowden of Jackson, Missouri, as well as many nieces, nephews and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents, sisters, Margaret White and Barbara Jo Shell, and brothers, Floyd and Lloyd Harris and Donald and Dwight Scowden.

Pallbearers are Cody Smith, Chris Morris, Elgin Rees, Dustin Kirkman, Dennis Poulette, and Jeff Scowden. Honorary pallbearers are Brad Copeland, Jim Comer, and Shawn Vance.

Funeral services will be held on Tuesday, October 9, 2018 at 10:00 am at the First Baptist Church in Diamond, Mo, with Pastor Ron Crow officiating. Graveside services will be held at 3:30 pm on Tuesday at the Pine Lawn Cemetery, in Houston, Mo. Masonic Rites will be cited at 6:00 pm Monday, October 8, 2018 at Mason-Woodard Chapel with visitation following.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions are suggested to First Baptist Church Building Fund, PO Box 206, Diamond, MO 64840.

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