Kerri Anne Mowen

, age 41 of San Diego, CA, passed away Sunday February 14, 2016 at her home. She was born May 19, 1974 in Burlington, Iowa, the daughter of Ronald and Renee Baxter Mowen.

Kerri was a 1992 graduate of Porta High School in Petersburg, IL. In 1996, she received a degree in Biology from Southern Illinois University in Carbondale. In 2000, she received a Doctorate Degree from the University of California in San Diego. In 2004, she received a Post Doctorate Fellowship from Harvard University. While at Harvard, she studied molecular and cellular immunology. From January of 2005 until December of 2015, she was an immunologist for Scripps Research Institute in La Jolla, CA, and most recently, was Scientific Co-founder and Director of Biology at Padlock Therapeutics in San Diego. Dr. Mowen was an innovative biologist and an exceptional scientific leader. While a faculty member at the Scripps Research Institute, she was awarded the Donald and Delia Baxter Foundation Young Career Scientist award and was also named the Hulda Irene Duggan Arthritis Investigator by the Arthritis Foundation.

She loved reading, scuba diving, traveling, running in marathons, golfing, and children. She was of the Catholic faith.

Survivors include her parents, Ron and Renee Mowen of Savoy, IL, her grandmother, JoAnne Baxter of Stronghurst, one brother, Brandon (Laura) Mowen of Cadis, KY, two nieces, Morgan and Hope Howard of Cadis, KY and several aunts uncles and cousins. She was preceded in death by grandparents, Harry Baxter, and Robert and Maxine Mowen.

A private family service will be held at 2:00 p.m. Friday February 19, 2016 at St. Patrick's Catholic Church near Raritan, Illinois, with Monsignor Tom Mack officiating. Burial will follow in the St. Patrick's Catholic Cemetery. There will be no visitation. Memorials have been established for the American Cancer Society and Lupus Foundation of America Research , and may be mailed to Banks & Beals Funeral Home, P.O. Box 299, Stronghurst, IL 61480.