September 9, 1943 – May 9, 2024
Alta Marie Anderson Bowers was born September 9, 1943 in Brownfield, Texas to John and Jewel Anderson of Plains, Texas. She was the fourth child of five, and she grew up in Plains, where she graduated from high school. After graduation, Marie went to work for the GTE Phone company in Brownfield as an operator. She went on to become one of the first female coin collectors for GTE. Marie married and had her daughter Helen on May 18, 1966. Helen was Marie’s main focus for many years. Marie spent many weekends and summer days taking her daughter Helen and three nieces to many events like The Harlem Globetrotters and to Elvis Presley in Concert. Many people believed all four were her children.
Marie met the love of her life, Tom Bowers, in 1968. They became good friends and were in and out of each other’s lives until they could not run from it any longer; they married in 1984. This blended two beautiful families into one: Marie’s daughter Helen Grisham, and Tom’s three children, Dwain Holly, Teri Bowers, and Wesley Bowers.
Marie was an avid reader and crossword puzzle enthusiast with both close by even if it was on her tablet that was never far from her reach. Along with books and crossword puzzles Marie’s pictures of all her kids and grandkids were on the tablet close at hand. Marie loved to cook and feed her family home-cooked meals. Her absolute pride and joy were her children and grandchildren; she loved each one with her whole being. When she retired in 1990, she worked at her niece’s day care making lunch and snacks for the kids.
Marie passed away peacefully near Seagraves, at the home she shared with Tom. Marie is preceded in death by her parents John and Jewell Anderson; her father and mother-in-law, JC and Ola Bowers; sisters and brothers-in-law, Jeaney and Roy Edwards, and Lou and Leroy Neal; Brothers and sisters-in-law, James and Karen Anderson, and Jim and Joy Bowers; and brothers-in-law Claude Bowers, Bernice Wilson and Dub Sellers; and grandson Patrick Holly. Marie is survived by her husband, Tom Bowers; daughters and sons-in-law, Helen and Brian Funk of Caddo Mills, Texas and Teri and Jesse Singleterry of Wolfe City, Texas; sons, Dwain Holly of California and Wes Bowers of Monument, New Mexico; daughter-in-law, Patty Hamlin; sister and brother-in-law, Wanda and Hollis Wolfenbarger; sisters-in-law, Lucille Sellers, Peggy Bowers, and Ann Wilson; five grandchildren, seven great grandchildren, and numerous nieces and nephews.
There will be a memorial for Marie in Lubbock, Tx on May 25th at 1:00 pm at the Westfork Clubhouse. 2802 N. Quacker Ave.
