Obituary for LoRene Bowman
Mary LoRene Potter Bowman
QUINCY, WA - Easter Sunday and the promise of the resurrection are especially meaningful this year. Early on Saturday April 3rd, 2021 Mary LoRene Potter Bowman peacefully passed into eternity. Today she is free from physical frailties and is reuniting with grandpa, Grant Lamar Bowman, after 9 years; laughing with her 1st granddaughter Staci after 19 years; hugging her daughter Peggy for the first time in 25 years; and holding her son Steve after a 56 year separation. What a wonderful family reunion!
Born on Feb 20th, 1930 at her grandparents’ home up Dempsey Creek in Lava Hot Springs to Glen and Josephine Potter, LoRene became life-long friends with her older sister Ruth. Both girls would accompany their parents performing at town dances; Glen on the accordion, Jo on the violin, and “old Mrs Colburn” on the piano. When LoRene would get tired, her mother would lay her on the piano and she’d sleep the night away. So it’s no surprise that she loved music; playing the accordion, the omni chord, and singing.
LoRene grew up during the great depression and learned to “Use it up, Wear it out, Make it do, or Do Without.” Her dad would take wheat to Arimo or Pocatello and trade for sacks of flour. After the flour was used up, her mom would make bloomers, petticoats, and--if the flour sack print was pretty--dresses. Sometimes they would have “Bannock Chief” on their underwear. Those experiences of frugality, grit, and ingenuity served her and Grant well moving from Lava to Connell and later in Quincy, trying to turn a dusty piece of desert ground into a fruitful farm. Once when the ditch broke and was washing out the field, grandma sat in the break while grandpa quickly shoveled dirt around her to repair the ditch bank.
LoRene was a dedicated member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Even through times of crisis--losing a 14 year old son to kidney cancer, an adult daughter and granddaughter, family heart-breaks, and some very difficult challenges with church leaders--when her faith was challenged, Grant and LoRene chose to be faithful to their covenants with Jesus Christ. For years they honorably served each week in the Seattle Temple.
LoRene was happiest when her kids and grandkids were visiting; sharing family time, warm hugs, and good food like ham and potato romanoff. She is survived by her sister Joleen Tillotson, her children Alan (Sue) Bowman, Brent Bowman, Julie Van Komen, son-in-law Mike Jones, 22 grandchildren, 68 great-grandchildren, and 2 great-great-grandchildren with 2 more on the way.
Celebration of life services will be held at 10am on Friday, April 16th, 2021 at the Church of Jesus Christ building in Quincy, WA. Burial will be in the Quincy cemetery next to her husband Grant and son Steve. Please join us in celebrating her life in via zoom or Facebook.
QUINCY, WA - Easter Sunday and the promise of the resurrection are especially meaningful this year. Early on Saturday April 3rd, 2021 Mary LoRene Potter Bowman peacefully passed into eternity. Today she is free from physical frailties and is reuniting with grandpa, Grant Lamar Bowman, after 9 years; laughing with her 1st granddaughter Staci after 19 years; hugging her daughter Peggy for the first time in 25 years; and holding her son Steve after a 56 year separation. What a wonderful family reunion!
Born on Feb 20th, 1930 at her grandparents’ home up Dempsey Creek in Lava Hot Springs to Glen and Josephine Potter, LoRene became life-long friends with her older sister Ruth. Both girls would accompany their parents performing at town dances; Glen on the accordion, Jo on the violin, and “old Mrs Colburn” on the piano. When LoRene would get tired, her mother would lay her on the piano and she’d sleep the night away. So it’s no surprise that she loved music; playing the accordion, the omni chord, and singing.
LoRene grew up during the great depression and learned to “Use it up, Wear it out, Make it do, or Do Without.” Her dad would take wheat to Arimo or Pocatello and trade for sacks of flour. After the flour was used up, her mom would make bloomers, petticoats, and--if the flour sack print was pretty--dresses. Sometimes they would have “Bannock Chief” on their underwear. Those experiences of frugality, grit, and ingenuity served her and Grant well moving from Lava to Connell and later in Quincy, trying to turn a dusty piece of desert ground into a fruitful farm. Once when the ditch broke and was washing out the field, grandma sat in the break while grandpa quickly shoveled dirt around her to repair the ditch bank.
LoRene was a dedicated member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Even through times of crisis--losing a 14 year old son to kidney cancer, an adult daughter and granddaughter, family heart-breaks, and some very difficult challenges with church leaders--when her faith was challenged, Grant and LoRene chose to be faithful to their covenants with Jesus Christ. For years they honorably served each week in the Seattle Temple.
LoRene was happiest when her kids and grandkids were visiting; sharing family time, warm hugs, and good food like ham and potato romanoff. She is survived by her sister Joleen Tillotson, her children Alan (Sue) Bowman, Brent Bowman, Julie Van Komen, son-in-law Mike Jones, 22 grandchildren, 68 great-grandchildren, and 2 great-great-grandchildren with 2 more on the way.
Celebration of life services will be held at 10am on Friday, April 16th, 2021 at the Church of Jesus Christ building in Quincy, WA. Burial will be in the Quincy cemetery next to her husband Grant and son Steve. Please join us in celebrating her life in via zoom or Facebook.