JoAnne M. McGowan of Reston, VA and South Bethany Beach, DE passed away on Saturday, February 25, 2017 at Beebe Healthcare in Lewes, DE. JoAnne was born in New York City, NY on May 12, 1950 daughter of the late John and Eleanor (Tierney) Murphy. She and her family settled in Vienna, VA when she was 9. JoAnne retired from the Department of Transportation in 2005. JoAnne loved spending time in South Bethany Beach, DE and was looking forward to living fulltime at the beach. She was instrumental in helping her husband with his photography with two important organizations in the beach community; the first being the Delaware Breast Cancer Coalition Bear Trap Dunes Pink Classic for the past ten years and also Operation SEAs the Day for the last four years. JoAnne will be remembered as a loving wife, mother, sister and friend who always put others first. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by a sister, Maureen Murray. She is survived by her loving husband of 45 years, Michael F. McGowan; a son, Michael Murphy McGowan of Leesburg, VA and six siblings, John “Jack” Murphy of Long Beach, CA, Lynn Sullivan (George) of Millsboro, DE, Suzanne Murphy (Michael Nordberg) of San Francisco, CA, Tom Murphy of New Zealand, Lorie Murphy (Doug Neal) of Fairfax, VA and Kathleen Murphy of Fairfax, VA. A visitation will be held from 4-7 PM on Wednesday, March 1, 2017 at the Ocean View Chapel of Melson Funeral Services, 38040 Muddy Neck Rd., Ocean View, DE 19970. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11 AM on Thursday, March 2, 2017 at St. Ann Catholic Church, 691 Garfield Parkway, Bethany Beach, DE 19930. Entombment will follow at Gate of Heaven Cemetery, Dagsboro, DE. The family suggests memorial contributions in JoAnne’s name to the Delaware Breast Cancer Coalition, 111 W. 11th Street, Suite 3, Wilmington, DE 19801. In the memo line of your check please write The Dunes Pink Classic.