Mattie Lou Bowman, 76, of Paris, Texas went to be with her Lord & Savior Jesus Christ, on April 15, 2018, at Stillhouse Rehabilitation & Healthcare Facility, after a long journey of illness for the last several years.
A visitation is scheduled for Friday, April 20th, from 10 – 11 a.m. at Bright-Holland Funeral Home. Following the visitation, there will be a funeral procession to Evergreen Cemetery with a graveside service officiated by Mattie’s nephew, Dr. David Bowman.
Mattie Lou Bowman was born on Feb. 25, 1942, to Brice Elmore and Emma Mae Long Bowman, one of eight siblings, 6 brothers and one sister. She graduated from Delmar High School in 1960, where she loved playing basketball & hanging out with her best friend, Ruth Dennis. She studied business/secretarial/computer courses at Paris Junior College and worked in insurance for Hickman Insurance Agency & C Price & Son Insurance for several years. Mattie was the City Clerk/Registrar for the City of Paris, Texas for 29 years, retiring in 2004. She professed the Christian Faith and was a Baptist by denomination.
Mattie was raised on a farm outside of town near Glory/Biardstown, Texas, and knew the value of hard work & family at an early age. She could pick cotton, milk the cows, churn the butter, pick the garden, pluck & cook the chickens, sew and cook with the best of them. She learned her love of cooking from her mom, Granny Bowman. She loved to craft & was a talented artist and loved to paint and had an eye for detail and color. Baking and cooking and feeding her family and friends were one of her pleasures. She was always a hit at the Bowman Family Reunion with her chicken & dressing, candied sweet potatoes, broccoli-cheese casserole & chocolate & pecan pies. Everyone always wanted to go to Grandmomma’s/Aunt Mattie’s for something yummy to eat! She collected elephants/Santa Clause figurines, cookbooks and made her own homemade plum jelly. Hobbies included camping, travel, RV’ing, painting, gardening, decoration inside & out for each season, shopping for shoes, and reading a good book. She enjoyed playing the organ, listening to Country & Western Music and 50-60’s style music. Elvis was her favorite singers and the Dallas Cowboys were her team, win or lose. Mom taught me and her three grandsons to two-step and how to Bebop. Most of all, Grandmamma loved & spoiled those three grandsons and the two great-granddaughters! Always on the front row, she tried to never miss a baseball/football/basketball/track meet/junior rodeo/ FFA or music event. She was their biggest cheerleader along with Pawpaw Bill. She was always willing and ready to help a friend/family member in need.
Mattie is pre-deceased by her parents, Brice Elmore & Emma Mae Long Bowman, one sister, Marie Bowman Haney & husband Early Haney, two brothers, Arnold Bowman & wife Trula and Charles “Chuck” Bowman, her former husband, Craig Sanders, and second husband, Kendall Hines.
Survivors include: one daughter, Denette Sanders Walker & husband Paul, three grandsons, Seth Walker & wife Mallory, Jordon Walker & wife Reagan, and Bryce Walker, two great-granddaughters, Sydney Grace Walker and Avery Reese Walker, three brothers, Tom Bowman & wife Juanita, John Bowman and wife Patsy and Jerry Bowman & wife Peggy, numerous nieces, nephews and cousins, and former husband, Bill “PawPaw” Cunningham & his family.
Though our hearts are filled with sorrow, we rejoice in knowing that Mom has a new body in Christ, and suffers no longer. She is rejoicing with all her family/friends that have gone before her and we hold on to God’s promise of being reunited with her again one day soon. Thank you to all her friends/family that have called, texted, and prayed for her. Thank you to Guardian Home Health, Dr. John Littrell (surgeon), Dr. Thomas Troutt, (PCP) and to the many wonderful nurses, doctors, and any and all medical/nonmedical team/staff who have taken care of her. God is good all the time, he puts a son of hope in this heart of mine! Psalm 23 was her favorite.
Casket bearers will be Paul Walker, Jordon Walker, Seth Walker and Bryce Walker.
To leave a message or tribute for the family please visit www.brighthollandfunerlahome.com
