Edwa Gene “Genie” (Gillespie) Bowen, 88, Bethany, Mo., met her Heavenly Father after passing away on October 9, 2019 at Lamoni Care Initiatives, Lamoni, Iowa. The daughter of Delmar Virgil “Shorty” and Arleta Berniece (Maxwell) Gillespie, she was born at her grandparents’ home, Ridgeway, Mo. on February 7, 1931.
She graduated from Ridgeway High School in 1950. On June 12, 1952 she married Ray Junior Bowen and to this union four children were born. She retired as Blythedale Postmistress in 1996. She was a member of the Blythedale United Methodist Church and the Eagleville Christian Church.
She was a beautiful seamstress and she also enjoyed cooking, gardening, flowers, crafts, traveling, and camping. She had a beautiful voice and family enjoyed listening to her yodel.
Her smile and laugh were contagious and she didn’t know a stranger. Her pride and joy were her children and grandchildren. She always put their needs ahead of hers and her love for them knew no bounds. She will be missed by all who knew and loved her.
Genie was preceded in death by her parents; brother Jack Gillespie; father-in-law and mother-in-law Ray A. and Verda Bowen; brother-in-law Kenneth Gray; brother-in law and sister-in-law Willis and Bernetta Smith.
Those left to cherish memories of her include her husband Ray Junior of the home; daughters Rebecca (Roger) Hendren, McKinny Texas; Brenda (Alan) Hamilton, Ridgeway Mo.; Alicia Bowen Craig, Blythedale Mo.; son Gregory (Sondi) Bowen, Blythedale Mo.; 13 grandchildren, Luke Hendren, Grant Hendren, Darren (Julie) Dale, Carrie (John) Renner, Dustin Dale, Matthew (Tammy) Hamilton, Stacy (Brian) Howard, Casey (Abbie) Hamilton, Nikkie (Cory) Holtwick, Jodi (James) Davis, Shelli (Austin) Akers, Nathan (Shanci) Craig, and Ashley (Justin) Smith; 23 great grandchildren, Dalton, Anniston, Chesney, Sierra, Makiah, Dayton, Miles (Kathryn), Connor, Jessica, Ethan, Lane, Colter, Hyde, Ava, Drake, Jaci, Jensen, Alex, Logan, Kellan, Jorgensen, Karsyn, and Bowen; sister Linda Davis, Elephant Butte N.M.; sister-in-law Aileen Gray, Bethany Mo.; two nieces and two nephews and their families, cousins, and a host of friends.
Funeral services were October 12 at the Eagleville Christian Church, Eagleville, Mo., under the direction of Roberson Funeral Home, Eagleville, Mo. Burial in Cedar Hill Cemetery, Blythedale, Mo.
Memorials may be made to Eagleville Christian Church Building Fund, Alzheimer’s Association and/or Three Rivers or Care Initiatives Hospice in care of Roberson Funeral Home, P.O. Box 46, Eagleville, Mo. 64442. Online condolences may be left at www.robersonfuneralhome.com