Reverend Arthur Jay Gowie, CTOCS, 81 passed away 23 May 2026 at the Veterans Home in Bangor, Maine. He was born on February 16, 1945, in Troy, New York, the son of Arthur and Jean Gowie.

Art served in the U.S. Navy from 1966-1987. He served as a Cryptologist, HRM Chief, and Career Counselor. He was a graduate of the Department of Defense Race Relations Institute, Drug and Alcohol School, and HRM School. He developed and implemented the Navy’s Leadership and Management program. He served aboard the USS Wasp (CV-18) and the USS Ticonderoga (CVA-14), where he served in the COMM Center and rode helicopters in and out of Vietnam.

Duty stations include: NAVCONNSTA, Philippines (twice), Naval Radio Station 85, Wahiawa, Hawaii, NSGA Winter Harbor, Maine (3 time), NSGA and NAVFAC, Keflavik, Iceland, ADCOP Pensacola, Florida, COMNAVFOR, Yokosuka, Japan, COMSUBGRU 7, Yokosuka Japan where he was the supervising Chief for the building of the Verdin, HRM School, Millington, Tennessee, HRM Chief for NSGA Misawa, Japan. While stationed in Japan, he climbed Mt. Fuji and facilitated the Overseas Diplomacy Services Program. He was awarded the Naval Commendation Medal while stationed at NSGA Winter Harbor, Maine.

While stationed at Naval Radio Station 85 in Wahiawa, Hawaii he met and married his wife Madelene R. “Suzie” (Burks) Gowie, who is the daughter of the late CTTCM Jim Burks.

While on active duty he served as Episcopal Lay Leader in Iceland and Japan. He was licensed by the Bishop of the Nippon Sei Ko Kai. He also earned an Associate’s degree through the Navy ADCOP program at Pensacola Junior College, a Bachelor’s degree through the University of Maryland’s overseas campus program, and a Master’s degree in Adult Education from the University of Southern California’s overseas campus program. Upon retirement he attended Bangor Theological Seminary, Bangor, Maine, earning a Master’s of Divinity. In 1997 he was ordained in the UCC and pastored churches in East Millinocket, Brooks, and Monroe, Maine. For 22 years he served as Staff Chaplain at Northern Light Eastern Maine Medical Center and Acadia Hospital, Bangor, Maine.

He was an active member of Scouting for over 65 years; earning his Wood Badge Beads and awarded the District Award of Merit, and the Silver Beaver. No matter where he was stationed Scout summer camps were a given,

He enjoyed being a member of the NCVA and NCVA-NE, especially hosting National Reunions. He served as secretary/treasurer for NCVA-NE.

Other employment include: Acadia Publishing Company, Husson University’s Director of Continuing Ed and women’s assistant soccer coach, Borders Books, Apple Computer Consultant for the University of Maine.

Free time found him involved in woodworking, refurbishing Apple computers, photography, being a volunteer firefighter, and hiking with his wife and dogs. He survived by his wife, of 56 years, a son, Arthur Gowie, daughter-in-law Elizabeth Graves, daughter Cheyenne (Gowie) Allan, Grandchildren Madelene Allan, Matthias Allan and Calvin Gowie.

He was predeceased by his parents, a sister, and a son, Lenno Paul Gowie.

His celebration of life with Military Honors will take place in Maine and burial at Oakwood Cemetery, Troy, New York.