William E Bower

William (Bill) E. Bower passed away peacefully in St Vincent’s Hospice on March 28, 2013. Born January 1, 1950, in Birmingham, Al., to C. Edward & Frances E. Bower, he has lived in Jacksonville since 1964.

Bill graduated from NB Forest HS in 1968, and continued his college studies in Daytona Beach. Bill was employed by Colomer, Jacksonville for over 36 years.

An avid sportsman, Bill enjoyed tennis (at Boone Park), volleyball, golf, surfing, riding his motorcycle, and several Jacksonville running events. For several seasons, one of the ways Bill gave back to his community was to coach girls’ softball. Bill was a man with a great and warm smile for friends and family alike. Sometimes it seemed that smile was almost magical after he spent time relaxing in the sun in Key West or the Jacksonville beaches he loved so much.

Although to some it may have seemed that his beloved cats, (which were always there to greet him), were his true love, those who knew him best knew that his real love was his family and friends. A simple request was all one had to make of Bill, to receive a warm smile, and a helping hand whenever needed.

Left to cherish his memory are his sister Nancy Vaughan, who will dearly miss “her hero thru life & protector”, brother-in-law Lawton Vaughan, uncles Bob Bower, Keno, OR, John Bower (Norma) Williamsport, Pa, and Tom Bower (Dorothy), Garland, TX, many cousins and many, many friends who will miss him greatly.

The family wishes that any donations in Bills memory be made to No More Homeless Pets of Jacksonville at 6817 Norwood Ave, Jacksonville, Fl. 32208, or Community Hospice of NE Florida 4266 Sunbeam Rd, Jacksonville, FL 32257.

Service arrangements are entrusted to Hardage-Giddens Blanding Chapel, 5753 Blanding Boulevard, Jacksonville, FL 32205. Messages of condolence may be left at www.hardage-giddensblanding.com