Gary D. Bowers

Gary D. Bowers, of Spring, Texas, son of Joe and Tressie Bowers of Dearborn Heights, Michigan died Thursday, April 3, 2025. He was preceded in death by his parents, brothers Clyde Bowers and Bruce Bowers, and his sister, Sharon Bowers. He is survived by his wife,Ruth, and his sons, Joseph Bowers, The Woodlands, and James Bowers, Portland, Oregon.

Gary was born on July 20,1955. He graduated from Crestwood High School in Dearborn Heights, Michigan in 1973. He held as associate degree in social work from Oakland Community College in Michigan, and he attended Michigan State University and the University of Texas at Austin, as a pre-law student majoring in history.

Gary was an athletic child, favoring baseball. In high school, he wrestled and ran cross country. He was a member of the Michigan State Crew Club as coxswain. He had a passion for competitive chess and joined chess clubs wherever he was. He was active in the Houston Chess Studio at its Jackson Hill Street location for many years. Gary was a collector, with large coin, baseball card, chess book and magazine collections.

Early on, Gary worked at the Salvation Army's Denby Children's Home in Detroit, working with abused and neglected children that had been removed from their homes. He also worked for several years as a buyer at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston. As his disabilities got the best of him, he rose to the task of stay-at-home Dad throughout his children's growing years.

Gary was a laid-back, friendly, kind person with a great sense of humor. He was a social person who would strike up conversations with homeless people that everybody else was ignoring. He always put others first. He will be missed.

A memorial service for Gary will be held Friday, April 11, 2025 from 1:00 PM to 2:00 PM at Forest Park The Woodlands Funeral Home, 18000 Interstate 45 South, The Woodlands, TX 77384, followed by a catered reception from 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM.