Mary O'Day Bowen

2017 at College Pines Health and Rehabilitation Center. She was born June

24, 1930 in Geneva, Alabama to the late Aven Cotton Croley and Gussie Lee

Johnson Croley.

Mrs. Bowen was a devoted wife and proud Mother who wisely taught her

children the ways of the world and entertained family and friends with her

playfulness. Mary had a boundless offering of “southern sayings” tailored to

any situation. Her wit and wisdom extended beyond her homemaker years to

include a successful real estate career before retiring to devote her

unconditional love to her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Mary was a

Christian who knew her bible well – if someone started a bible reading, Mary

could finish the verse. Her favorite verses were Ephesians 4:32 which

informs us to “Be kind one to another, tender-hearted, and forgiving” and

Romans 12:16 “Be of the same mind toward one another; do not be haughty

in mind, but associate with the lowly. Do not be wise in your own

estimation.” All who were blessed in life to know Mary will miss her dearly

but rejoice in her deliverance from her beleaguered body into the heavenly

company of Angels, reunited with departed family members and friends

past...at a spot she often spoke of, “at the corner of Sunshine and Bluebird

Lane.”

Survivors include her husband of sixty years, Timothy William Bowen of the

NC State Veteran’s Home in Black Mountain; a daughter, Beverly Ramsey of

Newland; two sons, Forrest Bowen and wife Julie of Bluffton, SC and

Marcus Bowen and wife Marcia of Morganton; a brother, Randal Croley of

Panama City, FL; a sister, Catherine Croley of Orlando, FL; nine

grandchildren, Ben Ramsey, Will Ramsey, Anna Alvarez, Rebekah Bowen,

Sarah Bowen, Emily Bowen, Forrest Bowen, Jr., Stephanie Kuehne, Ashley

Bowen, seven great-grandchildren; and her beloved Lakeland Terrier, Max

Bowen.

Services for Mrs. Mary O’Day Bowen will include a celebration of her life

this Thanksgiving holiday where family and friends are encouraged to attend.

The family would like to extend heartfelt appreciation to the many caregivers

who served Mary especially the Nurses and CNA “human saints” that tended

to Mary's needs. The family is also grateful for the support from the North

Carolina Department of Health and Human Services and the Veterans

Administration for their Aid and Attendance benefit extended to Mary

through Tim's military service.

Kirksey Funeral Home and Cremation Services is serving the Bowen family.