In Memory Of
Margaret Ruth Bowerman
1926
2021
Margaret Ruth Bowerman
August 3, 1926 — May 4, 2021
Margaret Ruth Carlyon Bowerman passed away May 4, 2021. She was born in Louisville, Nebraska, the second child of Dr. Richard Ernest and Ruth Lillian Wolters Carlyon, on August 3, 1926. Margaret's father was a Methodist minister and was attending a conference while the family stayed at the home of a fellow Methodist pastor in this small town southwest of Omaha. Apparently, Margaret was really ready to be born and since there was no time to get to a hospital in Omaha, she was born in the home. Margaret's family consisted of an older brother and two younger sisters and as is the custom within the Methodist Church, the family moved frequently around Nebraska. They lived in Chambers, Dakota City, South Sioux City, Fullerton, Omaha and Falls City during Margaret's childhood. Margaret started high school at Omaha North High School and then transferred to Falls City High School in the middle of her junior year. She was an active student, serving as a Senior class officer and participating in chorus, glee club, operetta, debate club and class play.
Margaret initially chose MacMurray College in Jacksonville, Illinois to begin her college career, but she became dissatisfied and transferred to Baker University in Baldwin City, Kansas. There, she joined Alpha Chi Omega Sorority. In 1947, she married Jack Bowerman Sr. and the couple left Baker, so that Jack could pursue a degree in civil engineering at Kansas State. After Jack's graduation, he and Margaret moved to Olathe, Kansas where they raised four boys.
While raising her children, Margaret was active in local civic activities. She served a term as president of the local PTA and a term as president of the GR Chapter of PEO. She was active in the First Methodist Church in Olathe (which later became the Grace United Methodist Church) and in the Rotary Club. She was president of the house corporation board of the Omicron Chapter of Alpha Chi Omega at Baker. She worked as the secretary of Westview Elementary School, the school all four boys attended.
In 1963, she began taking evening courses at Pittsburg State University and two years later she began taking courses at the University of Kansas in Lawrence. She always reminded us that she made all A's. She received her bachelor's degree in social work from KU in 1967. That same year she started work for the Johnson County Welfare Department. In 1971 she went to work for the Sunflower Council of the Camp Fire Girls, and in 1973 she was named Executive Director. In 1981, she began working as a social worker for Olathe Community Hospital (which became Olathe Medical Center). She retired in 1990.
In retirement, Margaret wanted to stay active. She started volunteering in the Clothing Closet at the Center of Grace in Olathe, the mission center of the Grace United Methodist Church. She ended up managing the Clothing Closet operation for 14 years. Realizing that there was a great unfulfilled need for children's shoes, she helped to establish the Children's Shoe Fund and solicited donations from local civic organizations to provide the funds needed to satisfy the needs.
Margaret enjoyed an active family and social life. She loved gardening, maintaining flower gardens wherever she resided over the years. She was an avid bridge player and while she enjoyed the social aspects of the game, she loved to win. She and Jack and the family took numerous vacations to see family and friends while the boys were growing up. After the boys were out of college, she and Jack did more adventurous traveling to Hawaii, the Caribbean, California, New England, Panama Canal, Bahamas, the Carolinas, Door County, Gettysburg, England and France. As a part of their 50th wedding anniversary celebration in 1997, Margaret and Jack and the entire family, sons, daughters-in-law and grandchildren spent several days at the Red Bud Inn in Branson. In 1998, the Bowerman family was honored as the Baker University Family of the Year. In 2012, the family celebrated Jack's 90th birthday and in 2016 Margaret's 90th birthday. In 2015, at the age of 89, she traveled to Australia with her nieces, Lisa and Lori.
Margaret was preceded in death by her parents, Richard and Ruth, her two younger sisters, Hilda and Mary, and her husband of 67 years, Jack. She is survived by her brother, Don, her four sons, Jack (Marcia), Tim (Rita), Paul (Jane), Dan (Kathy), nieces Lisa (Bud), Lori (David) and 11 grandchildren and eight great grandchildren.
A private family service will take place on Saturday, May 8, at the Grace United Methodist Church and will be available for viewing on You Tube. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations in Margaret's honor to the Bowerman Family Scholarship Fund at Baker University, the Children's Shoe Fund at Grace United Methodist Church, the GR Chapter of PEO or the Omicron Chapter of Alpha Chi Omega at Baker University.
To leave a message of condolence for Margaret's family or to share a special memory of Margaret, please visit the guestbook below.
To view the service, please visit the following site: https://youtu.be/AXId7smi408
Margaret initially chose MacMurray College in Jacksonville, Illinois to begin her college career, but she became dissatisfied and transferred to Baker University in Baldwin City, Kansas. There, she joined Alpha Chi Omega Sorority. In 1947, she married Jack Bowerman Sr. and the couple left Baker, so that Jack could pursue a degree in civil engineering at Kansas State. After Jack's graduation, he and Margaret moved to Olathe, Kansas where they raised four boys.
While raising her children, Margaret was active in local civic activities. She served a term as president of the local PTA and a term as president of the GR Chapter of PEO. She was active in the First Methodist Church in Olathe (which later became the Grace United Methodist Church) and in the Rotary Club. She was president of the house corporation board of the Omicron Chapter of Alpha Chi Omega at Baker. She worked as the secretary of Westview Elementary School, the school all four boys attended.
In 1963, she began taking evening courses at Pittsburg State University and two years later she began taking courses at the University of Kansas in Lawrence. She always reminded us that she made all A's. She received her bachelor's degree in social work from KU in 1967. That same year she started work for the Johnson County Welfare Department. In 1971 she went to work for the Sunflower Council of the Camp Fire Girls, and in 1973 she was named Executive Director. In 1981, she began working as a social worker for Olathe Community Hospital (which became Olathe Medical Center). She retired in 1990.
In retirement, Margaret wanted to stay active. She started volunteering in the Clothing Closet at the Center of Grace in Olathe, the mission center of the Grace United Methodist Church. She ended up managing the Clothing Closet operation for 14 years. Realizing that there was a great unfulfilled need for children's shoes, she helped to establish the Children's Shoe Fund and solicited donations from local civic organizations to provide the funds needed to satisfy the needs.
Margaret enjoyed an active family and social life. She loved gardening, maintaining flower gardens wherever she resided over the years. She was an avid bridge player and while she enjoyed the social aspects of the game, she loved to win. She and Jack and the family took numerous vacations to see family and friends while the boys were growing up. After the boys were out of college, she and Jack did more adventurous traveling to Hawaii, the Caribbean, California, New England, Panama Canal, Bahamas, the Carolinas, Door County, Gettysburg, England and France. As a part of their 50th wedding anniversary celebration in 1997, Margaret and Jack and the entire family, sons, daughters-in-law and grandchildren spent several days at the Red Bud Inn in Branson. In 1998, the Bowerman family was honored as the Baker University Family of the Year. In 2012, the family celebrated Jack's 90th birthday and in 2016 Margaret's 90th birthday. In 2015, at the age of 89, she traveled to Australia with her nieces, Lisa and Lori.
Margaret was preceded in death by her parents, Richard and Ruth, her two younger sisters, Hilda and Mary, and her husband of 67 years, Jack. She is survived by her brother, Don, her four sons, Jack (Marcia), Tim (Rita), Paul (Jane), Dan (Kathy), nieces Lisa (Bud), Lori (David) and 11 grandchildren and eight great grandchildren.
A private family service will take place on Saturday, May 8, at the Grace United Methodist Church and will be available for viewing on You Tube. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations in Margaret's honor to the Bowerman Family Scholarship Fund at Baker University, the Children's Shoe Fund at Grace United Methodist Church, the GR Chapter of PEO or the Omicron Chapter of Alpha Chi Omega at Baker University.
To leave a message of condolence for Margaret's family or to share a special memory of Margaret, please visit the guestbook below.
To view the service, please visit the following site: https://youtu.be/AXId7smi408
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Margaret Ruth Bowerman, please visit our flower store.
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