For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. John 3:16
Mrs. Helen Louise Bowman, age 83, Jonesborough, passed away on Monday, December 3, 2018 at Four Oaks Health Care Center. Her children were by her bedside. We know she was greeted in Heaven upon her arrival by her husband, her parents, and other members of her family who had preceded her in death. Most importantly she was welcomed with open arms by Jesus, her Redeemer and Saviour.
Helen was the oldest of twelve siblings. Her parents were Jake & Tildia Freeman. She was married to Jesse E. Bowman and had been married 59 years at the time of Jesse’s death in 2013.
Helen and her late husband Jesse were owners of Bowman Fabric Shop. The two of them enjoyed traveling and buying material for the shop. She volunteered for the Holston Baptist Association at the hospital and had 400 hours of volunteer work when she had to quit. She worked for Empire Furniture (where she met Jesse), worked for Magnavox and Texas Instruments.
She was a member of Cherry Grove Baptist Church. She taught a Sunday School Class for many years. In 2011 she had read the Bible through 17 times. She loved visiting the sick and elderly within the church and community when she was still able to drive.
In addition to her parents and her husband, she was preceded in death by three brothers, Buford Freeman (Red), Lynn Freeman and John Freeman.
She is survived by two children, one daughter, Rita Kay Bowman, Johnson City; one son, Russell Wayne Bowman, Jonesborough; two sisters, Margaret Coggins and husband, James (Buck), and Velma Ayers, Jonesborough; six brothers, Vestal Freeman and wife Virginia, Carl Freeman, Marvin Freeman, Leroy Freeman, David Freeman and Bobby Freeman and wife Donna, Jonesborough; brother-in-law, Howard Bowman, Johnson City; two sisters-in-law, Kathleen Crosswhite and husband Bill, Bristol, and Barbara Freeman, Piney Flats; and several nephews and nieces.
The family will receive friends from 5:00-8:00 pm Wednesday, December 5, 2018 at Dillow-Taylor Funeral Home.
Funeral services will be conducted 1:00 pm Thursday, December 6, 2018 at Cherry Grove Baptist Church with Rev. Jimmie Rogers, Rev. Tommy Clark and Doyle Walters officiating. Music will be provided by Wade Cole, Doyle Walters, Gary & Betty Walters and family. Interment services will follow at Cherry Grove/Keplinger Cemetery.
Pallbearers will be her six brothers, Vestal, Carl, Marvin, Leroy, David & Bobby Freeman, Nathan Coggins, Luke Cole, Hazen Arnold and Charles Lyons.
In lieu of flowers the family request donations be made to Samaritan’s Purse, P.O. Box 3000, Boone, North Carolina 28607 or to Cherry Grove Baptist Church, c/o Doyle Walters, 104 Cherry Grove Rd. Jonesborough, TN 37659, for the Samaritan’s Purse Shoebox Fund from the church.
Helen’s children want to express their appreciation to Dr. Matthew Cary and his loving staff at SOFHA who took care of their mom for several years and to all the staff at Four Oaks Healthcare Center who took such wonderful loving care of her during her last months of life. Also, we say thanks to our family, the caregivers and many other friends who visited and/or stayed with her during these last months of illness.