“I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith.” 2 Timothy 4:7

Jesse Eugene Bowman, age 78, Jonesborough, died Wednesday, January 30, 2013 at home surrounded by his family.

Jesse was a Piney Flats native and son of the late Carl David & Zella Rose Bowman.

Jesse was an active member and former deacon of Cherry Grove Baptist Church. He taught Sunday school and held various church services during his time of being active before he became disabled. He loved visiting the sick and shut-ins within the church and the community.

He was a former employee of National Casket Company and CE Refractories in Erwin. Jesse and his wife Helen were owners of Bowman Fabric Shop. He loved traveling through the South buying material, sheeting, etc. for the shop. He was even named the “lace” man because he sold so much lace one year at the Erwin Apple Festival. He had a smile and a handshake for everyone he met. Jesse loved fishing (his favorite hobby) and passed this trait on to his son. He was a loving husband, father and friend.

In addition to his parents, He was preceded in death by four brothers, Lester Lee Bowman, Roy Edward Bowman, Delmer Preston Bowman and an infant baby, and one sister, Ella Mae Bowman.

Survivors include his wife of 59 years, Helen Louise Bowman, Jonesborough; one daughter, Rita Kay Bowman, Johnson City; one son, Russell Wayne Bowman, Jonesborough; two sisters, Kathleen Crosswhite and husband, Bill, Bristol, Geneva Holloway & husband Harry, Piney Flats; two brothers, Howard Bowman and wife Mary Elizabeth, Johnson City and Paul Bowman, Bristol; five sisters-in-law, Margaret Coggins, Velma Ayers, Mary Elizabeth Bowman, Virginia Freeman and Donna Freeman; 10 brothers-in-law which are honorary pallbearers; and several nephews and nieces.

Funeral services will be conducted 1:00 pm Saturday, February 2, 2013 at Cherry Grove Baptist Church, Jonesborough. Rev. Jimmie Rogers and Doyle Walters will officiate. Music will be provided by Stephanie Cole, Doyle Walters, Gary Walters, Betty Walters and Joyce Hale. Interment will follow at Cherry Grove Cemetery.

Active pallbearers will be friends, Charles Lyons, Tom Lee, Nathan Coggins, John Verble, Clyde Story, Hazen Arnold, Henry Reaves, Larry McKinney and Robert Cole. Honorary pallbearers are all his brothers-in-law, Vestal, Carl, Marvin, Leroy, David and Bobby Freeman, James (Buck) Coggins, James Ayers, Bill Crosswhite and Harry Holloway.

The family will receive friends from 5:00-7:00 pm Friday, February 1, 2013 at Dillow-Taylor Funeral Home and other times at the home.

In lieu of flowers, the family request donations be made to Cherry Grove Baptist Church c/o Pat Stout 104 Cherry Grove Rd. Jonesborough, TN 37659, for the needy in the church and community.

The family wants to express a “special” thanks to those who spent long, tiring days and nights sitting with Jesse. Also, we say thanks to all the other family members and many friends for every act of kindness shown to us during this period of time. We also want to recognize Amedisys Hospice and Amedisys Home Health for medically caring for Jesse the past few months.