Mary Ellen (Will) Bowen (1846-1931)

WILL, BOWEN, KELTZ, RAUGH, BOWEN

Posted By: Dorian Myhre (email)
Date: 10/12/2021 at 18:31:19

From Nevada Evening Journal November 10, 1931 (page 4)

Grandma Bowen Was Laid to Rest Sunday

Special to the Journal.
Maxwell, Nov. 10--The funeral of Mrs. Mary Ellen Bowen, 85, widow of the late Jesse Bowen was held Sunday afternoon at 2 o'clock in the Presbyterian church, the services being in charge of her pastor, the Rev. B. H. Guthrie.

The casket was opened at the church for the friends and the flower tributes were many and beautiful. The flower bearers were Mrs. Sid G. Sherman and Mrs. George Cole.

A quartet composed of Ross Olinger, Mrs. O. W. Parker, Miss Rose John and Earl Bowen sang the sacred selections, "Going Down the Valley". "Lead Kindly Light," "Beautiful Valley Somewhere," and "Crossing the Bar."

The Pall bearers were: C. B. French, Ray Posten, John Link, O. F. Strombeck, Geo. Cole and Guy Cooper.

Mrs. Bowen whose maiden name was Mary Ellen Will, was one of the oldest residents of this place having moved with her family from Iowa Center to Maxwell in the year 1882, soon after the town was started. She was one of the real pioneers of Story county who came to Iowa from Virginia with her parents in 1858, when a child 12 years of age.

She was married to Jesse Bowen in 1864 and was the mother of ten children, three of whom preceded her in death, Sidney, Curtis and Fred. The surviving children are Maude Bowen, Mrs. Edna Keltz, John E. Bowen Bowen, Mrs. Howard Raugh, Esther R. Bowen, Glen A. Bowen and Mrs. Donald Elder. Besides these she leaves 13 grand children and 25 great grand children.

She was a kind, loving wife and mother and always considered the welfare and happiness of the members of her family and friends.

Burial was made in the family lot in the Maxwell cemetery.