Maria Eugenia

Gover

Maria Eugenia Gover, 87, passed away on November 3, 2026, with her daughter by her side.

Maria was born on August 3, 1939, in Mexico City, Mexico, to Manuel Josaphat Valverde and Guadalupe Valverde de Covarrubias. She joined three brothers, Manolo, Enrique, and Carlos, and two sisters, Lupita and Rosie. Her oldest brother, Manolo, was 21, and her youngest sister, Rosie, was 9 at the time of her birth.

Maria lost her father at the age of 9 and was placed in a Catholic girls' school. She completed her lower grades, four years of high school, and four years of college by the age of 17. Upon leaving the girls' school, she acquired a secretarial position at an architectural firm in Mexico City, where she met her husband, John P. Gover. They corresponded by letter for two years, seeing each other in person for only approximately 30 days during that time.

They married on April 11, 1959, and made their home in Altus, Oklahoma. They welcomed their son, James Walter Gover, on April 3, 1961, and their daughter, Gina Dominique (Gover) Warren, on January 13, 1964.

Maria loved being a mother first and foremost, and she also loved to entertain. With John involved in so many committees and serving as President of the National Bank of Commerce, Maria became quite versed in the art of entertaining and became famous for her “Soupy Eggs” (if you know, you know). Needless to say, many of the people she came to know would request “Soupy Eggs” the morning after one of her wonderful parties.

Maria bought and ran Flair Interiors for several years once her children were older and she had time to devote to the store. With her natural eye for elegance and innate sense of style, she enjoyed her time in interior decorating, bringing beauty and warmth to the lives and homes of others. That same sense of style was reflected in her home décor and the gift selections she chose for the shop, which were impeccable for all types of occasions. She was involved in the philanthropic organization P.E.O. and always enjoyed her bridge club. She loved all types of games and loved to dance.

Maria is survived by her daughter, Gina Warren, and her husband, Charles, of Wellington, Texas; grandsons Buck Stephens, Phillip Stephens and his wife, Heather, and Jacob Stephens and his wife, Katie; her daughter-in-law, Cathy Gover; granddaughters Rachel Gonzales and her husband, DJ, and Morgan Gover; as well as many great-grandchildren, nephews, and a niece in Mexico City.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, John Gover; her son, James Gover; and all of her siblings.

A Celebration of Life will be held at Kincannon Funeral Home on Tuesday, November 17, at 10:00 a.m., with Reverend David Braddock officiating.

Online memorial tributes and expressions of sympathy may be made at www.kincannonfuneralhome.com.