Nancy Jean Gowens, “Nanc,” Gramma Ancy,” passed away at home on June 1, 2025. She was 78 years old. Nancy was born on April 15, 1947 in Rochester, NY to Milton and Bella Epstein. Nancy grew up and spent her formative years in Rochester. After she earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Physical Therapy from State University New York at Buffalo, Nancy moved to Hilo on the Big Island in Hawaii. Forever after, she had a love of Hawaiian music. Her middle years were spent living in Bellingham and Ferndale, Washington. Then she went to live and bask in the sunshine of Stuart, Florida to be close to her mother and sister. Nancy returned to Washington after retiring and settled into island life on Lummi Island where she savored long walks along Legoe Bay.

Along the way she married Gary Metter. Together, they had two deeply loved children, Brandon and Aubri. After Gary, Nancy married Dan Jennings. Then Cisco Gowens.

A healer, Nancy put her degree to work as a Physical Therapist working with patients in their homes and in nursing homes. During the years she lived in Bellingham and Ferndale she was on staff at St. Luke’s Hospital and St. Joseph’s Hospital. She had amazing organizational skills, but somehow, they didn’t apply to her morning routines. She had to chug her coffee in the shower and always ran out the door late for work as her lab coat was handed to her on the fly.

Nancy worked hard and played hard. She was spunky with an incredible sense of fun. If she was outside, she was happy. Nancy loved camping and cross-country skiing with dogs and kids bouncing along behind in her tracks. And there were always dogs, puppies, and cats. Nancy surrounded herself with rescues. Then, there were motorcycles. Nancy was at home on the back of a BMW motorcycle touring the countryside. And of course, with her organizational skills, Nancy was the planner and scheduler for all of the tours. When she wasn’t on the back of a bike, she was cheering on trackside at motorcycle races.

Nancy was also down-to-earth. In her quieter moments she turned her hand to calligraphy and sewing. Her caring heart and beautiful smile will be dearly missed by all who knew her.

Nancy is survived by her husband Cisco Gowens; daughter Aubri Monk; son Brandon Metter; grandchildren Levi and Veda Metter; Sister Jodi Smart, cousins Eileen Stoler Goldman, Howard Stoler, Larry Stoler, Jill Kravetz, and Michael Cohen.