Mary A. Bowen

Mary A. Bowen, 87, born on August 22, 1928, in Monmouth, Illinois, passed away October 15, 2015. She resided in Garden Grove, California, at the time of her passing. Arrangements are under the direction of Forest Lawn, Cypress, California.

She is survived by her daughter Shellie R. Brison, her son-in"like" Carlos Hernandez, Grandson Bowen F. Brison and his wife Jessica Brison, Grandson Donald E. Brison, Jr., Great-Grandchildren Isabella LaVay Brison and Liam Robert Bowen Brison. Her younger sister Jody Morrissey of Galesburg, Illinois.

On October 15th at 8:20pm my Mom left this world to reunite with my Dad in heaven. I am grateful that I was with her when she left her earthly home to journey to her heavenly home to be with her sweetheart and soul mate, Charlie, as well as in the presence of the Lord Jesus!!
Her last days were not easy ones for her and as much as I will miss her, I am so glad that she is now healthy, whole and beautiful once again, that she is able to be held in Daddy's strong arms and that they are dancing "cheek to cheek"!

She was a wonderful, loving and kind wife, mother and grandmother. One of my fondest memories as a little girl, was when my Mom would push me on the swings in our back yard singing to me, "Somewhere Over the Rainbow", she really didn't have that good of a voice, but I loved to have her sing that to me. I also loved to see my Mom all dressed up to go out with Daddy, she always had everything to match, dress, shoes, hat and jewelry, she always looked beautiful, but she didn't think so, she thought she was an "ugly duckling", I thought she was a swan! Another favorite memory was her baking, she baked all the time when I was a little girl. She would bake cookies early for Christmas and then freeze them. I would sneak down to the basement, go in the freezer and help myself to a cookie or two. I wonder if she ever figured out I was doing that?

I thank both my parents for a good work ethic, they were both hard workers. My Mom worked very hard on the farm and when we moved to California in 1964. She started beauty school because her brother Ben Curry had a beauty school and she thought she would enjoy that, but that didn't work out for her. She then went out and found a job at Newport Collins Radio, where she would drive her little 1963 Sky Blue Chevy Corvair to work everyday. She did work there for quite awhile, but I don't think "factory" work was for her. My Dad finally told her to quit working and stay home, that she had an important job there to do, to be his wife and my Mom full time! Even when she was working full time, she always had a "spotless" home and when she was home, well lets just say, you could "eat off the floors"!

I remember our many trips to the mall, she loved to go shopping. she didn't always buy anything, I think she just loved to go out and be around all the people. She would sit in the "play areas" with Bowen and Donnie while I shopped and when I came back she was always talking to someone, she loved talking to people and they enjoyed talking to her as well. She and daddy were very involved with the Elks Club, loved going there for dinner and dancing, and had many friends. They participated in many activities at the Elks, volunteering when ever they could. They joined the Elk Enders, traveling all over in their motor-home after daddy retired. My parents enjoyed life, and they deserved it because they had worked very hard.

My Mom enjoyed being a grandma, and loved her grandsons Bowen and Donnie very much. I would always find them out at her house getting into mischief in one way or another, but they could do "no wrong" in her eyes. When her first great-grandchild Isabella was born, she was in the "early" stage of Alzheimer's, but she was so excited to finally have a little girl to spoil. Later, when she became much worse, she may not have remembered Isabella and Liam's names, but I would watch her watching them intently as they played in the house when they came to visit. I knew that she enjoyed it when they would come close to her bed and talk to her and read stories to her. She didn't really talk to them, but I could see it in her eyes that she liked having them close by.
She kept her sense of humor until almost the last, one of the things she would say that always made me laugh was "picklefoot" when ever she thought something you told her was ridiculous or she didn't agree with, not sure where she came up with that word, but it was a true "Maryism".

There is so much more I could share about my Mom, but there really isn't the time, space or even the words to describe her. I'm just so very grateful that Mary Bowen was my Mom and that I had the privilege to take care of her in her last years. She always took good care of me and when she needed it, I'm so glad that I was able to take care of her.

Mama, I miss you very much, but I'm so glad that you and Daddy are together again, that you are both talking, holding hands, laughing and dancing together! Give each other hugs and kisses from all of us here on earth that love you both. I look forward to the day when we will be together again! Until then," I love you a bushel and a peck and a hug around the neck, I love you, I love you"! xoxoxoxoxoxo