Obituary of Joseph Holliday Chowning II

Joseph Holliday Chowning II

Joseph died on June 29, 2018 in Gridley, California following a long illness. He was born in St. Louis, Missouri to Joseph Holliday Chowning and Mary Wofford Chowning on July 28, 1938, the oldest of three siblings. As a teenager he and his family moved to Fort Worth, Texas. He served in the United States Marine Corps and was a graduate of Texas Christian University. Joe had a successful business career with IBM and was a founder and executive of Computer Election Systems. He retired from the corporate world in his late 30’s to follow his passion for art and founded Zara Gallery and The Joseph Chowning Gallery in San Francisco. He represented numerous established and emerging artists over a span of three decades and was president of the San Francisco Art Dealer Association. He was an avid fisherman often telling stories of “the big fish that got away” and a rabid SF Giants baseball fan.

 He was preceded in death by his parents, his sister Lynn Chowning Weems, and a grandson William Walker Sisney. He is survived by his daughters, Mary Chowning, Anne Chowning Sisney, and Jennifer Chowning (Grant Ellis), his granddaughters, Mary Sisney, Annie Ellis and Lucy Ellis, his brother Richard Chowning (Barbara) and numerous cousins, nieces, nephews and friends.

Interment will be private. Memorial gifts should be directed to Planned Parenthood.

Arrangements are entrusted to Gridley Block Funeral Chapel 530-846-2138.