Jeff Gowing was born and raised in Cottage Grove, Oregon and is a fourth generation Oregonian. A graduate of Cottage Grove High School, Jeff served 6 years in the United States Army. He served one year with the 9th Infantry Division at Fort Lewis Washington, 3 years with the 25th Infantry Division at Schofield Barracks, Hawaii and 2 years with the 2nd Armor Division at Fort Hood, Texas. After an honorable discharge in 1988, he returned to Oregon to raise his family.

In 1989 Jeff began working at Weyerhaeuser Lumber in Cottage Grove where he worked for 34 years. His community service also began in 1989 when he joined the Jaycees. Jeff served as a City Counselor for the City of Cottage from 2009 – 2016, as Mayor from 2017 – 2022 and currently serves on the Cottage Grove Planning Commission. Other community service involvement includes Past President of the Oregon Mayor’s Association, Past Chair Lane Area Commission on Transportation, Past member of Lane Council of Governments and current member of the Cottage Grove Planning Commission. Jeff is a current Board member of the Veterans’ Legacy, Coast Fork Water Shed Council and Cottage Grove Community Foundation. He has also served on the Boards of the American Legion, American Legion Riders, Oregon Veterans Motorcycle Association, and Vision Keepers in Cottage Grove.

Jeff lives in Cottage Grove and has three adult children and six grandchildren. He has completed two full round trip motorcycle rides starting in Sacramento CA and ending in Washington DC with the National Veterans Awareness Riders. Jeff a lifetime member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars and is an active member of the American Legion and the Elks. His hobbies include motorcycle riding, hunting, fishing, golfing, bicycling and travel.