Michelle Scott

Burns

Michelle Scott (Gowing) Burns, 57, of Kearney, Missouri, passed away peacefully on the morning of Saturday, November 7, 2026, surrounded by her family, after a five-year battle with ovarian cancer.

Michelle was born on January 5, 1969, in Richmond, Missouri, to George Kyle Gowing and Joni Dee (Scott) Gowing. She graduated from Orrick High School with the class of 1987. On September 1, 1995, she was united in marriage to Paul “Alan” Burns, and together they raised two children, Holly Grace and Grant Alan. They made their home in Memphis, Tennessee, and St. Charles, Missouri, before settling in Kearney, where they lived for many years.

Michelle never knew a stranger, and she spent her working life around people. She owned Ice Ice Baby, her Hawaiian shaved ice business, and Gracie’s Catering, managed Fubbler’s restaurant, worked at Redmond’s and Paisley Perk, and left every one of them with more friends than she came in with. She lit up a room with her great smile and her red lipstick, and her quick wit and mischievousness had everyone laughing. She loved to entertain and host, and nothing made her happier than doing that for her family. She was a mother not only to Holly and Grant but to their friends and to the nieces, nephews, grandnieces, and grandnephews she adored. Through her five-year battle with cancer, she kept going, fighting fiercely and remaining a delight to be around until the end.

Michelle was preceded in death by her father, George Gowing; and her father-in-law, Richard Burns.

She is survived by her husband of 31 years, Alan, of the home; her daughter, Holly (Chris Trammell) Burns of San Diego, California; her son, Grant Burns of Liberty, Missouri; her mother, Joni Gowing of Orrick, Missouri; her sisters, Mindy Hannah of Huntsville, Texas, and Melissa Monarez of Orrick, Missouri; her brother, Jeffrey (Amber) Gowing of Orrick, Missouri; her mother-in-law, Carol Burns of Kansas City, Missouri; her sister-in-law, Melanie Burns of Kansas City, Missouri; and the many nieces, nephews, grandnieces, and grandnephews she loved so fondly, as well as a host of friends.

A visitation for the family to receive friends will be held from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. on Wednesday, November 11, 2026, at Gowing Funeral Home in Orrick, Missouri. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, November 12, 2026, at the funeral home, with Pastor Art Endsley officiating. A private graveside service and interment will follow at Riffe Cemetery, north of Orrick.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial contributions be made to Riffe Cemetery, in care of Gowing Funeral Home, PO Box 169, Orrick, MO 64077.