Wilma Janey Bowers

Wilma Janey Bowers was released from her earthly bonds on Sunday, August 12, 2012 and was welcomed into Jesus' loving arms. She was born in Cascade, Idaho one cold January day in 1924. She was the third daughter born to Melvin and Ruby Hammon.

She met the love of her life, Richard Bowers, in Boise, Idaho, in the spring of 1944. Looking for a job, he walked into the bank where she was working and it was love at first sight. She went home that night and told her mother she'd met the man she was going to marry. And marry him she did December 24, 1944! They had nearly 67 years together. Their obvious love for each other through thick and thin was a terrific example to their four children and to all who knew them.

She is survived by her four children: Wilma Raye Wheeler of Port Ludlow, Washington, Melva Janey Warner (James) of Yakima, Washington, Richard Dale Bowers (Patricia) of Vancouver, Washington, and Robert David Bowers (Debra) of Vancouver, Washington. Also remaining in this earthly realm are 9 grandchildren: Amy Ruth Bounds (Jeff), Richard Charles Wheeler III (Jennifer), Jaylene Stark (David), Jeremy Warner (Kayla), Christina Johnson (Todd), Michael Bowers, Jennifer Swift (Matt), Russell Bowers and Ezra Bowers. Her nine great-grandchildren include: Tyler Bounds, Nathan Bounds, Ian Bounds, Rebecca Bounds, Levi Warner, Miles Warner, Isaiah Covey, Tanner Johnson, and Eliana Stark. She is also survived by her sister Melva Edwards (Lloyd) of Jackson, Georgia.

Preceding her to Paradise are her parents, three sisters (Lois, Edith and Elsie), her beloved Richard, son-in-law Richard Charles Wheeler II (Skip) and daughter-in-law Roxanne Bowers.

We would like to express our gratitude to the hospice and hospital staff at Yakima Valley Memorial Hospital for the love and care given to our mother in her last days.

A celebration of her life will be conducted at Keith & Keith Funeral Home, 902 W. Yakima Ave., Yakima, WA on Saturday, September 15th at 1:00 p.m., with a reception following the service at Ahtanum Pioneer Church, 8500 Ahtanum Road, Yakima at 2:30 p.m. Interment of cremated remains will be held at the Pioneer Cemetery in Horseshoe Bend, Idaho at a later date. To share a memory of Wilma please visit www.keithandkeith.com.