Esther Mae Bowen, 95, of Oklahoma City, OK passed away peacefully May 4, 2010 at her home in Warr Acres attended by her daughter, Karen, Karen's husband Robert Bird and one of her wonderful caregivers, Kathy Bowens. Funeral services are scheduled for 10:00am Saturday, May 8, 2010 at Putnam City United Methodist Church, 5819 NW 41st St., Oklahoma City with interment to follow at Chapel Hill Memorial Gardens, OKC. Esther was born April 12, 1915 on a small farm near Temple, OK to Elam Erasmus "Rab" and Lena Mae Wilhite Lovelace. She attended Pleasantview School in a one-room school house through the 9th grade. She moved into town to live with several older siblings, Lester Lovelace, Lois Gandy, Treva Mason, and Weaver Lovelace, in order to graduate from Temple High School in 1933. In 1937 Esther left Temple to live with another sister, Annie, and husband, Andy Smith, in Bethany, OK. She attended Blackwood-Davis Business College in OKC until being employed by Federal Supply until 1940. She married Walter T. Bowen in St. Joseph, MO in 1939. They divorced in 1959. They moved to her current home in Warr Acres in 1946. They attended Wesley Methodist Church until becoming members of Putnam City Methodist Church. Esther has continued as an active member being involved as a Sunday school teacher, United Methodist Women and Mobile Meals. She was employed by National Supply Co. through birth of daughter, Jane Ellan, in 1942 until after birth of Karen Sue in 1945. Esther resumed employment at National Supply until 1962 when she went to work at El Reno Federal Reformatory for Federal Bureau of Prisons as Wardens Secretary/Administrative Assistant. She retired in 1981. She loved to travel, visiting all the states, except Hawaii and Minnesota, and Europe and the Caribbean. She was a Girl Scout Leader, loved to play bridge and to garden. She was a member of OSU Extension Homemakers and Warr Acres Garden Club. Esther was preceded in death by her 11 siblings. She is survived by her two daughters and son-in-law. Also survived by five grandchildren, Angela Miller, El Reno, Doug Sawyer, Bolinas, CA, Stacia Riggs, Portland, OR, Shawna Whitestine, Santa Rosa, CA, Derek Ligon, Mount Laurel, NJ, and all their respective spouses, Darin, Klaus Hofmockel, Rich and Gina. She is also survived by 11 great grandchildren, Rachel, Joshua, Mason, Isabel, Madison, Mackenzie, Colton, Kate, Lena, Henry and Cassidy. She had 4 wonderful loving caregivers, Kathy Bowens, Margaret Duncan, Joyce Taubitz and Bobbie Ware. Esther's family and friends were the light of her life. She will be dearly missed. But she was so ready to go meet her Lord. Condolences may be offered at www.guardianwestfuneralchapel.com

Published in The Oklahoman on May 6, 2010