Friends of well-known Ashland actress and activist Joanie McGowan say they are saddened to know that the woman who put a tremendous amount of energy into making the world a better place apparently ended her own life earlier this week.

"Joanie made a huge impact on a lot of peoples’ lives, and was a huge asset to Ashland and Jackson County in general," said former housemate Tina Bolling of Ashland. "She wanted to help the whole world."

Passers-by discovered McGowan’s body Tuesday afternoon, laying alongside the Bear Creek Greenway near Eagle Mill Road. Jackson County Sheriff Mike Winters said there’s "no question" her death was a suicide, but was uncertain whether an autopsy would be performed. Friends say McGowan, 48, had recently been struggling with depression.

One of the people who found her body near the Greenway was longtime friend John Darling, who works as a freelance journalist for the Mail Tribune and other local publications.

Like many other Ashland residents, Darling said he met McGowan about 30 years ago when she worked as a waitress at Geppetto’s restaurant, where she also painted a large wall mural that remains there today.

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A Massachusetts native who moved to Ashland in 1976, McGowan became a more familiar name in Southern Oregon during her five years with Jefferson Public Radio, where she handled fund-raising activities and did some on-air work.

"Joanie kind of wanted to change the world and saw public radio as a way of bringing about good things," recalls JPR Executive Director Ron Kramer. "She was a real effective person who lived her life with such strength and passion."

An actress who co-founded the improvisational comedy troupe The Hamazons, McGowan left JPR last year to focus on political theater. She traveled around the West, performing a play titled "It’s Never Too Late To Save The World!," in which she was rudely awakened by a radio announcer broadcasting an "End of the World Alert."

"She was an activist who believed in freedom and that every person can make a big difference in the world," said Colleen Pyke, who worked with McGowan at JPR and acted alongside her in an earlier version of the play titled "Rude Awakening."

Also in 2004, McGowan was selected as a convention delegate for Dennis Kucinich, which led her to Boston in July for the Democratic National Convention.

About a month before the convention, McGowan underwent reconstructive surgery on her face following an assault in which a 22-year-old Southern Oregon University student punched her as she walked her bicycle home early one morning.

Ashland resident Dennis Mead-Shikaly said that instead of becoming outraged after the assault, the incident prompted McGowan to organize a community effort to educate young men about the consequences of their behavior, and advocated therapy for people accused of violent crimes.

"She wanted to create a dialogue and a healing," Mead-Shikaly said. "Joanie was so full of life and enthusiasm, and has been a great inspiration to me."

But friends say that although McGowan’s passion was to bring about positive change, she struggled with her own negative feelings during the final months of her life.

McGowan cut short her tour of "It’s Never Too Late To Save The World!" because of financial difficulties, Bolling explained.

"A lot of people did not realize that fell through," said Bolling. "That was too big of a disappointment to her, I think."

Added Pyke: "I think she just got lost when the play didn’t take off."

McGowan reportedly checked herself into a local addiction-recovery center last month, and sought help for depression at hospitals in Salem and Medford, friends say.

"It’s just so sad that she somehow got so desperate that she could not do it anymore," Bolling said. "She was a big personality, and kind of a celebrity in Ashland. She’s definitely going to be missed."

Reach reporter Jack Moran at 776-4459, or e-mail jmoran@mailtribune.com