He was a native of Ponca City, Oklahoma. As a younger man, Craig was an avid businessman, outdoorsman, pilot, rancher, and woodworker. Everything he did was done with great thought and precision. He began his career as a draftsman for an architectural firm, and later went into industrial sales. He soon moved into management positions which took him all over the country. This experience led him to co-found several refinery-support companies of his own. He retired early to ranching in Oklahoma with his wife, Sandy. After her passing, he moved back to Sulphur where he continued woodworking, focusing on crafting bowls from specialty woods.
He is survived by a daughter, Paula Hunter and husband, Bob, of Sulphur; and by his children’s mother, Yolande Bowman of Sulphur. He is also survived by his grandchildren, Craig (Winter) Bowman of Sulphur, Stacey (Brian) Guilbeaux of Sulphur, Lauren (Neil) Ponstein of New Orleans, and Andi (Jeremy) LaVergne of Sulphur; his great-grandchildren: Dava Whitman, Carter Bowman, Noah Guilbeaux, Macy Guilbeaux, Roman LaVergne, Demi LaVergne, Emily Bowman, Cali Guilbeaux, Cara Bowman, Jett Guilbeaux, Gia LaVergne, Henry Ponstein, Margot LaVergne, and Sage Arceneaux (great-great-grandson). He is preceded in death by his second wife, Sandy Bowman; by his parents, Gene and Helen Bowman; and recently, by his son, Chuck Bowman.
All arrangements will be held on Monday, August 4, at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Sulphur, and are as follows: 8 a.m. Visitation, 9:30 a.m. Eulogy, followed by a Mass of Christian Burial. The Reverends Timothy Goodly and Aubrey Guilbeau will officiate. Burial will be in Mimosa Pines Cemetery South in Carlyss under the direction of Hixson-Sulphur Memorial Funeral Home. In lieu of plants or flowers, please consider making a donation to your own church, or to Bastion Veteran Community (www.joinbastion.org), the ASPCA (www.aspca.org), or to Immaculate Conception Catholic Church of Sulphur (www.icsulphur.org). Words of comfort may be shared with the family at www.hixsonfuneralhomes.com.
