Obituary of Donald George Bowers

Donald G. Bowers Funeral Services for Donald George Bowers of Elsberry, MO will be held at 11:00 a.m. Tuesday, August 25, 2015 at the Elsberry First Christian Church under the direction of Carter-Ricks Funeral Home in Elsberry. Rev. Kris Hagemeier, church pastor, will officiate with burial in the Elsberry City Cemetery near Elsberry. Serving as pallbearers will be David Bowers, Bruce Bowers, Jim Danielson, Joe Bowers, Jacob Danielson and Jared Danielson. Honorary pallbearers will be Sonny Taylor, Dale Hurley, Winston Bailey, Dennis Hammack, Marcia Hill and Roberta Hagemeier. Mr. Bowers, 86, passed away early Friday morning, August 21, 2015 at his home in Elsberry. Born October 21, 1928 in Battle Creek, MI, he was the oldest of five boys born to Fred C. and Elnora Hard Bowers. Don graduated from Battle Creek High School in June 1947. He served his country in the United States Navy from 1947-1959, serving two years on the Battleship Wisconsin and PC781 Patrol Craft and ten years in the Navy Air Reserves. Don was united in marriage on October 15, 1950 in Elsberry to Winona Galloway. This union was blessed with three children: David Thomas, Bruce Earl and Donna Lynne. An Eagle Scout himself, Don served as a Scout Master for Troop #391 in Elsberry while his children were young. He retired from McDonnell Douglas in 1987 as Acting Branch Manager of Scheduling in the Flight Test Division. Very active in his community throughout the years, Don was a former member of the Elsberry Chamber of Commerce, and past member and president of the Elsberry Kiwanis Club. Don was a longtime member of and most recently served as vice-president of the Joseph R. Palmer Family Memorial Library Board. He helped make all the standing book shelves in the Library. Members of the local Democrat Club, Don and Winona were the Recipients of The Grass Roots Award at the Missouri Democrat Days. Don served as the Great Flood of 1993 Lincoln and Pike County Flood Director. Don was a longtime member and Elder Emeritus of the Elsberry First Christian Church. Don was a 50-year member and past Worshipful Master of the New Hope Masonic Lodge #199 AF&AM in Elsberry. He was also a member of the Order of DeMolay International. Don was a member of the Scottish Rite – Valley of St. Louis, and received the KCCH Degree and his Honorary 33 Degree. He was a member of and past president of the NEMO Scottish Rite Club. He became very active with the Walker Scottish Rite Clinic for Childhood Language Disorders (Kid Talk program), where he served on the Board of Directors and was the area coordinator for the Kid Talk Clinic. He was also a member of the Royal Arch Masons. He was preceded in death by his parents, Fred and Elnora Bowers; his parents-in-law, Earl and Sadie Galloway; and two brothers: Thomas Bowers and Elwood Bowers. Survivors include his beloved wife of nearly 65 years, Winona Bowers of Elsberry; three children: David Bowers and his wife, Sue, of Dimondale, MI, Bruce Bowers and his fiancé, Starr Rodgers, of St. Peters, MO, Donna Danielson and her husband, Jim, of Troy, MO; seven grandchildren: Becky, Samantha “Sam”, Elizabeth “Beth”, Christine “Christy”, Joseph “Joe”, Jacob and Jared; and ten great-grandchildren. Don also leaves two brothers: Dr. Maynard Bowers and his wife, Leenamaria, of Marquette, MI and William Bowers and his wife, Hazel, of Houghton Lake, MI; several nieces, nephews, other relatives and many, many friends. Visitation will be held from 4:00-8:00 p.m. Monday, August 24, 2015 at the Elsberry First Christian Church. Memorials may be made to The Elsberry First Christian Church or the Joseph R. Palmer Family Memorial Library in care of Carter-Ricks Funeral Home, 107 S. 5th Street; Elsberry, MO 63343. Online condolences may be made at www.carterricksfuneralhome.com. Masonic History Donald George Bowers Don was initiated an Entered Apprentice in New Hope lodge #199 on April 28, 1954; passed to the degree of Fellowcraft on November 11, 1954; raised to the sublime degree of Master Mason on February 10, 1955. He served as Worshipful Master in 1994-1995 and again in 2000. He served as Chaplin and Masonic Home representative for many years. Don received his 32 degree Scottish Rite Masonic degree in June 1989, was knighted Knight Commander Court of Honor (KCCH) in October 1999, coronated in November 2003 as Honorary Inspector General 33 Degree Scottish Rite Mason, and received the DeMolay Honorary Legion of Honor award in November 2007. Don was elevated to the Royal Arch Degree of Royal Arch Masons on March 3, 2012. He was a member and served as president, secretary and treasurer of North East Missouri (NEMO) Scottish Rite Club. He was a member of four Scottish Rite Degree teams. Don was appointed to the Walker Scottish Rite Clinic for Childhood Language Disorders Board of Directors in June 2000. He was appointed area coordinator for the Walker Kid Talk Clinic in Elsberry in October 1996, and for all of Pike, Lincoln, St. Charles and Warren Counties in January 2005. Don was presented the Gold Award in recognition of outstanding service in York Rite Masonry by the York Rite Sovereign College of North America on July 12, 2011. The Grand Chapter of Royal Arch Masons of the State of Missouri presented Don with the Endowed Member of St. Charles Missouri Chapter #1 on June 23, 2012.