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March 21, 2005

Molly McGowan

I've been thinking about my great aunt's daughter, Molly McGowan, the one I mentioned in the last post who died at the age of 16 of Hodgkin's Disease. It's really sad because Hodgkin's is one of the more treatable cancers today. If she'd only been diagnosed ten years later she might've survived. This weekend I found out that her family didn't tell her she was sick. Everyone else knew. Her teachers and her classmates knew. Nobody told her. I found something written by her and she wrote that she had been feeling tired and run down but she didn't know why. Then one morning she died.

If it were me, I would want to know. I understand that they wanted her to live a normal life without any fear, but maybe she would have done things differently had she known. It's so hard to know what's right in these cases. I don't blame my family for not telling her, but it makes me immeasurably sad to think of all her classmates knowing when she didn't. It seems so unfair. Then I look at the picture of her that I've posted here. It was taken in that last year of her life. She seems happy. Would she have been happy had she known? Is happiness the most important thing in life? That's the age-old dilemma, isn't it? Is ignorance bliss or is knowledge the key to true inner peace? In the end, it really just comes down to personal preference.

In the paper she wrote before she died, she ends it by saying she hopes she has a long life. Her teacher, who knew she was dying, wrote, "I hope you do too, Molly" in the margin of the paper. Perhaps the truth was they didn't tell her because telling her would make it real not for her, but for them. I bet Molly would have been strong and brave no matter what. But seeing her smile in the face of death, that would have been too much heartbreak for everyone else to bear.

Posted by Tracy on March 21, 2005 1:45 AM

Wow, that's a sad story. It's a tough one. It's almost like deep down inside she knew she was dying when she wrote that she hopes she lives a long life. That picture makes it even sadder. She really looks happy like any teen. And I can't imagine what it had been like for her family, and everybody else, knowing she was going to die. It sucked all around. I don't know what I would do (as a parent) in such a situation. Tough call. In my case, if I was dying, I would want to know. Such knowledge would give me the courage to gore all my fears away and live every last minute like a king, wise man, a rebel. Thanks for sharing a bit of your family history. Very intriguing.

1. Posted by JP on April 1, 2005

I think it is brave of u to write about this ... found your site when researching my family name ... mcgowan ... not so common in scotland now but we do seem to have spread radically thru USA. I think her family did their best ... and in knowing they would have tried to give her everything, the best days of her life without her knowing. On reflection I dont know what I would do if it was my son (Jamie, age 7) but I know I would try to give him the world. We have a favourite song - Never Gonna Leave Your Side by Daniel Bedingfield.. dont know if he is well known in the states but he is a major artist in UK. Because of problems I have had in my own life, Jamie and I have been separated for quite a while, and because of that I have had to think about what I would do if we were separated forever. Not a happy thought but I would do everything I could to make him happy. Am sure your family did their best. Carole McGowan, 29-Jul_05. Hope this reaches u. xx

2. Posted by carole mcgowan on July 31, 2005

You people need to check your facts... Molly McGowan married my father in 1964....I think....My brother was born (with much love. to my Mom and Dad)in 1966..... after Molly passed away in April of 1965....

Dad loved Molly temendously but he also loved his wife and children enormously...He lived every day like it was his last...

3. Posted by Trish on March 4, 2006

Trish -

I don't need to check my facts at all. Did it ever occur to you that your Molly McGowan and my Molly McGowan were two different people? The Molly McGowan in my family died of cancer at the age of 16 and never had any children. Her picture is posted above.

Clearly we are talking about two different people. I hope that clears up your confusion.

4. Posted by Tracy on March 4, 2006

My apologies, if you are referring to a different person. The Molly I knew of died at the age of 19 of bone cancer. She and my father didn't have any children, she was pregnant, but on chemo, so the baby wasn't to be.
Your story is somewhat similiar and I am very protective of the history of Molly McGowan, even though I didn't know her, my father made her very much alive to me. He maintained a life long relationship with her family, whom we we're all close to.
I suppose the reason I thought they were one in the same is because on another web page about Molly (the actress) there was a link that brought me to your page.
I wouldn't want to see anything written about her that wasn't true, as I am sure you feel the same way.
Sincerely,
Trish

5. Posted by Trish on March 5, 2006

Yes, they are two different people. The Molly McGowan in our family lived in Coronado, California and died at 16. She never married. Her mother was my grandaunt.

The name is a common one. If you search for that name in Google you'll find many different Molly McGowans. I'm curious what site linked to this page - I'll let them know they have the wrong Molly.

6. Posted by Tracy on March 5, 2006

I apologize profusely....

As I said, I am very protective of the history of the McGowan Family. Molly's father and Uncle were the producer's and director's of Death Valley Days and Sky King, etc....
I just googled Molly again and found several other sites, but this (yours) site confused me because your aunt died at a similiar age and my father's Molly also was not aware that she was going to pass away (I just found this out a few months ago, by reading letters that my Dad was writing to my Grandma) My Dad has since passed so I am unable to ask him questions....

All the best to you...Your Aunt was a beautiful girl.

I'm sorry for your loss.

Trish

7. Posted by Trish on April 4, 2006

I can't believe I found this site. I was just thinking, for some reason, about the very prestigious scholarship given every year at Coronado High School,the Molly McGowan Award, and I went in search. Do you know if they still give it? I graduated in 80, but it was quite an honor back then.

8. Posted by Ann Hough on April 28, 2006

What a blessing to find this site.... Molly McGowan (the actress) was my best friend. Her married name was "Hickey" and she died when we were both 19. I have a lot of great memories of Molly as well as pictures and letters. I've thoght of writing a book about her but so far I've only treasured her memory in my heart....maybe someday...

9. Posted by Marti on June 20, 2006

Trish....are you saying that Herbert (I think that was his name; it's been a lot of years) is your dad's name? If so, I'll be happy to fill in the blanks for you about Mollie (and yes, she did spell it with an "ie" on the end).
Please leave me a post here and I will then leave you my email....
Thanks so much!!

10. Posted by Marti on August 19, 2006

Trish, I have been searching for the McGowans, too, because of rekindled memories of the classic movie "SNOWFIRE". I am a member of the Yahoo group, Horse_Movies.
I looked at the imdb site and I think she is there as "Molly McGowan (II)" but there are no details of her birth, etc. It must be she, as she's given credit for acting in "Death Valley Days"! So, she's the daughter of Dorrell? Thanks for clearing up a mystery. many people would love to see the movie again. paul

11. Posted by Paul Gruendler on January 18, 2007

Oh! And
Marti,
if you ever come back here, will you let us know whether you have a copy of Ms Molly McGowan Hickey's movie, "Snowfire"? THANKS! Paul

12. Posted by Paul Gruendler on January 19, 2007

I don't believe Molly's movies were ever transfered to 3/4" video. I don't know where the original film ended up, and I think that was part of the issue with 'snowfire' being released on video. Not sure who has the rights to that.

Marti,
I'm not sure who you are...I have great detail on my father and Molly's (Mollie's) life together so I don't necessarily need any "blanks" filled in. I'm comfortable with the many photos and memories he left with me.
I know, by reading her many letters, who her closest and most beloved friends were. I'm sorry that I don't recognize your name....
I've heard stories of their Molly and My father's time together, since I was a toddler.
Most important to me, my Father and Mother were married for 35 years before my Dad succomed to cancer. He always said he was blessed by two wondeful women who were very much alike.
I'm glad you were blessed by Molly's presence and friendship as she was a wonderful
Yes, my father was Herbert.

13. Posted by Trish on January 19, 2007

14. Posted by Trish on January 19, 2007

Hi Aunt Patty,
It's a small world...Me and Kory were looking up the McGowan's and found this site. Could you e-mail me some photos of Molly? I would love to see what she looks like. My mom wanted to name me Molly but grandpa said it would be to painful to hear it all the time.
Bye

15. Posted by Julie Hickey on January 21, 2007

Hi Julie!!

What a coincidence to find you here!

I'm sorry I don't have any pictures of Molly that I can e-mail you. I can make copies of some and send them to you. Yes, I remember your Mom wanted to name you Molly... and yes, Grandma had her two cents about that - but you know what? Grandpa Hickey's grandma was named Julie and I think that name is just a beautiful, just like you.
I will share all of the photos I can with you but I will send them to you privately...
Here's my e-mail
oshiyamamama@aol.com
oshiyamamama
@sbc.global.net
and my myspace is:
trishiyama.com

Talk to you soon ;)

Love,
Aunt Patty

16. Posted by Trish on February 9, 2007

Hi Trish...
I can only suggest that your dad didn't have "all" the letters.... Your dad and Mollie came to Santa Barbara (where I lived at that time) and spent the week-end with us several times. He did love her very much and was so good to her.
Mollie used to have call me "Shorty" because I was so much taller than her.
The letters that I have from Mollie many....some are from Austria while she was filming "The Bashful Elephant". Others are fromm when she first met your dad.
Her sister "Melodie" and I still keep in touch as well.
I do have many pictues of our teen years, photos from the movie sets, as well as photos of Mollie and I riding Snowfire and Duke.
I have the newspaper clipping of her obit as well (among others).
She and I were baptized on the same Easter Sunday in 1959 at a Baptist Church in Hollywood where we both were members.....
I am blessed to know that her memory continues on in the hearts of those who never even knew her....what an amazing legacy she has left....

17. Posted by Marti on September 3, 2007

I found this site very interesting since I am obviously not alone in my quest for a true copy of the movie "Snowfire". What a shame that something remembered so fondly by so many has been all but impossible to find. I have heard that Melodie may be trying to arrange for the movie to be aired on cable sometime in the near future. I certainly hope this is true. It was such a sweet movie and it has been 50 years since I saw it last but I never forgot it for some reason. I was so sorry to just find out that Molly passed away at such a young age. She was a sweet little actress and I have sweet memories of her in the movie. God speed...
Maggie M

18. Posted by Maggie M on October 7, 2007

The last time I talked with Melodie she was still trying to get the moving released. It's been locked in a vault for years and unfortunately the rights were sold right along with the movie. I never did have a complete copy, only some short pieces of clips that Mollie and I collected from the studio that are really not much at all...just a few frames.
The pictures that I have are of Mollie and I and the horses as well as some pics from her home and mine....just kid stuff but all the same, precious.
I'll give Melodie a call and see if there is anything new about getting the film back out or not...
Blessings,
Marti

19. Posted by Marti on October 12, 2007

I also remember this lovely Movie and hope to get a copy. I recall watching this on the Family Classics on Sunday in the early 60's when I was about 6 yrs old. I do recall it being on a movie channel listing about 7 years ago but missed the showing of it. If I recall it shows up for viewing about every 7 to 10 years with a one time listing around the christmas holiday when I last seen the listing while I was looking for the Shirley Temple Movies that are aired around Christmas look every year since hoping it will be aired. I got my inspiration and love for horse watching Snowfire, Flicka Movies as a child.

20. Posted by Diane on December 2, 2007

Yes, the Molly McGowan award and scholarship are still given @ Coronado High School and indeed it is still the highest of honors.

21. Posted by Dorothy on January 11, 2008

Hi Marti,

Email me at oshiyamamamma@aol.com or poshiyama@ameristarusa.com

I would really enjoy sharing the pics and letters we have with one another.

Sincerely,

Patricia Hickey-Oshiyama

22. Posted by Trish on February 24, 2009

Hi Marti,

Please contact me at oshiyamamama@aol.com. I believe I gave you the wrong address in the above post. I'm no longer working due to my illness. Hope to hear from you soon and share some of the pics my dad left me.

Sincerely,
Trish

23. Posted by Trish Hickey-McNaughton on April 6, 2009

mZecOO

24. Posted by Dibbnner on July 14, 2009

mZecOO

25. Posted by Dibbnner on July 14, 2009

Hey Trish....I sent you an email. Hope to hear from you soon....

26. Posted by Marti on August 5, 2009

Hi Marti,

I got your email, but I didn't respond in time.. can you email me your address again...I'm sorry :(

Looking forward to talking to you.

Trish

27. Posted by Trish on September 23, 2009