My Uncle

Sadly, my uncle passed away almost two weeks ago. It was unexpected. He was always so very friendly and good natured that he will be missed terribly. My apologies for including an obituary here, but since this is my memory book, it will be a special place for me to reference in the future years. I am sad to say that I learned stuff about him in his obituary that I didn't know about him when he was alive. We made the trip to Muskogee on Tuesday and returned to town after the funeral on Wednesday. Of course the girls were excited to see so much of their family (as was I) but the circumstances were quite sad.

From the Muskogee Phoenix newspaper (http://muskogeephoenix.com/obituaries/x1491234980/Gary-R-Bowline):

Gary R. Bowline

1943 - 2010

Gary R. Bowline, 66, of Muskogee, Oklahoma died Saturday, August 7, 2010 at St. John Hospital, Tulsa, OK surrounded by his wife and children after suffering from complications from surgery. He was born November 17, 1943 to Loren and Doris (Stringer) Bowline in Versailles, Missouri. Gary attended elementary and high school in Versailles, MO, graduating in May 1962. Gary married Vera D. Eickhoff on May 8, 1964 in Cole Camp, MO. Shortly after their wedding, the couple left the Missouri area for Toledo, Ohio so Gary could attend meat cutting school. After the completion of his training, Gary and Vera moved to Columbia, MO where both of their children were born. After five years in Columbia, they moved back to Cole Camp, MO where they owned and operated the Cole Camp Locker, a meat processing facility. After their business suffered a devastating fire in 1976, the family relocated to Muskogee, OK in 1977. Gary worked for several companies in and around Muskogee, and then worked for the last 25 years at Central Meat Market in Muskogee, OK where he retired in March 2008.

Gary was an active member of First Lutheran Church. Gary’s interests were his family, fishing, hunting, and gun shoots at the range. Gary was also a founding member of the Muskogee Gun Club where he was President for several years. Gary especially looked forward to his annual pheasant hunting trip to South Dakota with his buddies.

Gary was preceded in death by his parents. He is survived by his loving wife of the home, Vera Bowline; his daughter and son-in-law, Bethany and Mark Shipley and granddaughter Emily of Muskogee, OK; grandson and wife, Brandon and Amanda Shipley of Fort Gibson, OK and his great grandchildren, Isabelle and Karson; his son and daughter-in-law, Charles and Melanie Bowline and grandchildren Sydney, Allyson, Megyn and Tyler Bowline all of Las Vegas, Nevada. Gary is also survived by his brother and sister-in-law, Donald and Vera Bowline of Edwards, MO; sister and brother-in-law, Darlys and Mark Cagle of Wichita, KS; sister and brother-in-law, Karla and Roy Harleman of Versailles, MO; brother Robert Bowline of St. Joseph, MO. He is also survived by numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

Friends may wish to remember Gary by making memorials to First Lutheran Church, 428 E. Broadway, Muskogee, OK 74403 or the American Diabetes Association, 6600 S. Yale Ave., Suite 1310, Tulsa, OK 74136-3346.

Funeral services will be 11:00 a.m. Wednesday, August 11, 2010 at First Lutheran Church with Rev. Wayne Schuett officiating. Interment will follow in Greenhill Cemetery.

Funeral service arrangements are under the direction of Foster-Petering Funeral Home. Friends can send condolences to the family at www.foster-petering.com