Mary Joyce Bowerman

It was a cold, winter day on January 6, 1937, that a special gift came to Ben and Rosa Malone in Biardstown, Texas. Mary came as the younger gift of two, identical twins and joined her brothers and sister: Ben Jr, Grady, and Anna Mae. A little brother, Billy, would follow. The twins were named Nancy Joy and Mary Joyce after their grandmothers. Mary  lived her life with a built-in best friend who looked just like her. What fun they had growing up together. They would play jokes on other people by pretending to be the other twin. As Ben’s family grew up, he moved them from East Texas to West Texas to further his business opportunities.

In Lubbock, Mary met and married Burl Don Bowerman on August 27, 1954, and they began their life together in a small house on Ave G. They had two children, Randy and Donna. Mary was a caregiver throughout her life, taking care of both her mother and father. She became well known for being an incredible seamstress and for her delicious meals and great dinners she provided in her home. She took pride in her ability to feed and care for others, always feeling grateful for the opportunity to share her talents. Her family raved about her hot rolls, brownies, and fried chicken. Those recipes have been sent down the generations and are still being enjoyed today.

Dreams do come true, and Burl and Mary built their forever home in the country. It was ideal. Mary provided a great space to live and have fun in. For years, her children and grandchildren would spend the summers living their best life. They made unforgettable memories.

Mary was an excellent seamstress. Only she knows how many pieces of clothing she produced in her life as well as quilts and pillows.  She loved to give and made beautiful gifts copying what she had seen in a store or magazine. She made her own clothes and her wardrobe was elegant and tailored. She made shirts for Randy and dresses for Donna.  Randon and Taylor wore “Nana” made hunting shirts and Madison had the cutest little girl clothes ever. In later years, her sewing expertise was put to work in the bridal business, making alterations for beautiful bridal dresses.

But life is not all a bed of roses. She lost her grandson, and then her son, and life became filled with pain and grief.  As she struggled to cope through the following years, loss occurred again with the death of her husband, Burl, and then her son-in-law, LaMarr. Life has taken a new turn and has now brightened significantly with a grand reunion in heaven.

Mary is survived by her daughter, Donna James, grandsons, Randon Bowerman (Candice), Taylor James (Whitney), granddaughter, Madison Roberts (Charles), great-granddaughter Della; her sister, Nancy Green (Bob), and numerous nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Ben and Rosa Malone, husband, Burl Bowerman, son, Randy Bowerman, grandson, Nicholas Garrett Bowerman, son-in-law, LaMarr James, brothers, Billy Malone, Ben Malone Jr, Grady Malone, and sister, Anna Mae Wunneburger.

To send flowers to the family or place a tree in memory of Mary Joyce Bowerman, please visit our Tribute Store.