Notes:

Carl E. Bowers, 82, Carthage, Mo., went to be with his Lord and Savior, Friday, Nov. 11, 2011, surrounded by his wife of 66 years, Alice, and their five children.

Carl was born Jan. 16, 1929, in Roy, New Mexico to parents Thelma and Earnest Bowers.

After the early death of his mother he was raised by his grandparents, Albert and Janie Bowers near McNatt in McDonald County. In 1942 he moved with his grandparents to Jasper County at the age of 13. At a young age he left school to help his grandparents’ farm when his older brothers left to serve in World War II. As a teenager he accepted Christ and was baptized at Center Point Christian Church east of Carthage. He faithfully served the Lord with whole-hearted devotion for the rest of his life.

On Jan. 21, 1946 he married the love of his life, Alice May Snyder. From this union was born five children. He served as an elder of Fairview Christian Church, a board member of Cookson Hills Christian Home for children, he was a member of the Four State Christian Men’s Fellowship, served on the Carthage Public Library Board, and served on the advisory board of Good News Productions, Intl., Joplin. Because he had a heart of compassion for people in need, he was one of the founders of the Carthage Crisis Center and was a past president as well as being on the board of directors until his death. He specifically used his skills by helping rebuild after Hurricane Andrew and the Missouri River flooding of 1993 in St. Louis. He was always looking for and finding ways to serve others in his church and community.
Over the course of his life, he supported his family by working for various businesses including Morrow Mill, Chapman and Folmer, and Hercules Powder Company, all in the Carthage area, and at one time mining in Carlsbad, N.M. In the 1960s he opened Bowers Electronics, which later expanded to include furniture sales and became Bowers Home Furnishings. He was then a co-owner of Medoc Valley, Inc., an agricultural business.

He was preceded in death by his parents, grandparents, two brothers, Bill and Bob Bowers. He is survived by his wife, Alice, children, Marcia Brasfield, Joplin, Mo.; Jeanie Andrews (Mel), Jasper, Mo.; Dennis Bowers (Beverly) of Carthage, Mo.; Joanie Dyer (Jon) of Rogers, AR; and Darrell Bowers (Kathy), Carthage, Mo., ten grandchildren: Angie and David Phillips, Randy and Kim Brasfield, Brad and Ginny Andrews, Amanda and Jason Miller, Jonna Dyer and Ryan Mills, Jenessa and Mark Bailey, Jason and Orzalah Bowers, Jared Bowers, Melanie and Kirk Friesen, and Megan Bowers; 12 great-grand children: Jake and Hailey Brasfield; Corban, Noah, and Enoch Phillips; Kaitlyn, Alyssa and Andrew Miller; Caleb, Hannah, and J.T. Andrews; and Dyer Bailey; a cousin, Wilda Arthur; a sister-in-law, Jan Bowers, as well as many other relatives and friends.

Visitation will be at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 15, at Fairview Christian Church, 2320 S. Grand Ave., Carthage.

Memorial services will be held at 1 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 16 also at Fairview Christian Church with burial following at Fasken Cemetery. It was Carl’s request that in lieu of flowers, memorial gifts be made to Carthage Crisis Center in care of Knell Mortuary, 308 W. Chestnut, Carthage, MO, 64836. Online condolences may be expressed through www.knellmortuary.com.

Carl married Living [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

1. Living