Ellen Irene Bowker

Wednesday, December 29, 2010

Ellen Irene Bowker, 92, Lamar, Mo., formerly of Sheldon, Mo., died Monday, Dec. 27, 2010, at Barton County Memorial Hospital in Lamar, following a sudden illness. She was born Oct. 28, 1918, in rural Sheldon, to Marion Sterling Price George and Minnie Idell Duggins George. She married Robert Chester Banes on July 13, 1938, in Nevada, Mo. He preceded her in death Aug. 12, 1961. She later married William Bowker and he died Feb. 3, 1989.

Mrs. Bowker lived a full life gardening, raising cows, sheep and chickens. She also made patchwork quilts and loved collecting coupons. She worked on the family farm with her husband Chet until he passed away. She then worked in the cafeteria at the Lamar Hospital and the Sheldon School. She attended the Sheldon United Methodist Church in Sheldon and was a member of the Jolly Senior Citizens of Sheldon.

Survivors include a daughter, Roberta Ann Bigelow and her husband, Donald, Sheldon; 12 grandchildren, Robert Lynn Bailey and his wife, Julie, Nevada, Tracy Denise Garren, Independence, Mo., Abby Bridgett Cagle and her husband, David, Kirksville, Mo., Michael Allen Sims, Carthage, Mo., Margee Lee Huff and her husband, Christopher, Hermitage, Tenn., Debbie Rae Broadwater and her husband, Benjamin, Branson, Mo., Robert Douglas Conner and his wife, Cindy, Liberty, Mo., Dustin Lee Conner and his wife, Lori, Bronaugh, Mo., Angela Dawn Blixt and her husband, David, Harrisonville, Mo., Rebecca Jean Lear and her husband, Christopher Jones, Lamar, Mo., Christel Jean Goodell, Fort Scott, Kan., and Ginger Dawn Beerbower and her husband, Nathan, Fort Scott, Kan.; 33 great-grandchildren; six great-great-grandchildren; two sisters, Martha Louise Gordon and Dortha Ruth Holland, both of Lamar, Mo.; and numerous nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents; two husbands; four brothers, Raymond Sterling George, Leslie Edward George, Samuel Lawrence George and infant Wayne Eugene George; two sisters, Velma Mae Garwood and Sarah Margaret Lightner; two daughters, Kathryn Irene Bailey and Doris Evelyn Sims; and two infant grandchildren, Carla Christine and Barbara Bea Bailey.

Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m., Thursday, Dec. 30, at Ferry Funeral Home, Nevada, with the Rev. Lynn Quist officiating. Interment will follow at Sheldon Cemetery, Sheldon.

Friends may call now and until the hour of service at Ferry Funeral Home, 301 S. Washington, Nevada.

Contributions may be made in her honor to the Sheldon United Methodist Church c/o the funeral home.

View obituary and send condolences on line at www.ferryfuneralhome.com