Shirley Bowman

Shirley Ann (Larkins) Bowman, age 79, of Baker City, Oregon, passed away peacefully surrounded by family on October 29, 2023.  A Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, November 18, 2023, from 11:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. at The Fraternal Order of Eagles, 2935 H Street, Baker City, Oregon. The Eagles and Red Hat Ladies are providing the main dish, but those attending, may feel free to bring their favorite potluck dish.

Shirley was born April 18, 1944, to Walter and Verda Larkins in White Water, Kansas she was one of the middle children of eight siblings. They made their way to Oregon where her father worked on the Brownlee Dam in Richland, Oregon. She met her husband, Franklyn Garry Bowman and they were married on August 26, 1961. Garry drove miles around Shirley’s home before her dad came and got Shirley and told her, “You better go talk to the fella before he burns the rubber off his tires,” and the rest is history. Garry always called her his sweetheart. They were married for almost 49 years when Garry passed away in 2010. After she and Garry were married, they moved back and forth across Oregon due to his work and then finally landed back in Baker City, Oregon, in 1990 where they bought their house and permanently stayed.

Shirley and Garry had two daughters, Cindi Bowman and Kaylene (Bowman) Dennison. Shirley was a stay-at-home mom for the majority of her life, she also drove a school bus for the North Marion School District in Marion County, Oregon, and also worked at St. Elizabeth Hospital when it was on 4th Street in Baker as a kitchen aid. Shirley traveled with her husband Garry and their two daughters in tow during summers following Garry’s work to supply the cement to complete the new interstate systems being built, throughout Idaho, Utah and Nevada. Later she joined Garry traveling the Pacific Northwest to make his sales calls. She loved traveling, seeing new places, meeting new people and finding new places to shop.

She loved crocheting, sewing, crafts and playing cards. She also loved camping and going to rodeos with her children, grandchildren and extended family. You usually found Shirley with her family and especially her grandkids the majority of the time, “going on their adventures,” as she would say. She sincerely loved being with her family and having her family around and spending time with her friends.  She enjoyed social activities and she and Garry both bowled for many years in different bowling leagues. It saddened her when she had to quit bowling due to her health. She was a member of the Red Hat Society, where she cherished all the friendships she had made, the ladies in the group meant a great deal to her. She also loved to go to the senior center and meet with friends.

Shirley was a kind and generous woman, with a wonderful sense of humor. Her giggle and smile were contagious and you could not help but laugh when she gave you that ornery look. She was also up for a good prank and she was one of the most genuine people you could have known.

She is survived by her two daughters, Cindi Bowman, Baker City, OR, and Kaylene Dennison, Marana, AZ; brothers Roger (Lydia) Larkins, Spokane, WA; Jimmy (Leisa) Larkins, Haines, OR; Sisters, Verlene Drew, Naperville, IL; Rosemary (Don) Seickman; Barbara (Tom) Turner, both of Baker City, OR. She had six grandchildren, Daniel “DJ” Nichols, Baker City, OR; Kassi (Kevin) Kaminski, Marana, AZ; Kayla (Justin) Rock, La Grande, OR; Travis Dennison, Marana, AZ; Nicole (Mike) Hale, San Marcos, CA; and Christy (Ryan) Watson, Oro Valley, AZ; seven great grandchildren; brother and sister-in-law Butch (Lavaughn) Bowman, Casper, WY; and brother-in-law Bud Bowman, White City, OR; numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.

She was preceded in death by her husband Garry Bowman; her parents, Walter and Verda Larkins; brothers, Larry and Glenn Larkins; father and mother-in-law Frank and Jean Bowman; sisters-in-laws Ruth and Sherryll Bowman; brother-in-law Pete Barlow; and son-in-law L. Michael Dennison.  

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Eagles Scholarship Fund, Baker County Search and Rescue, or the Ronald McDonald’s House through Tami’s Pine Valley Funeral Home and Cremation Services. Online condolences can be shared at www.tamispinevalleyfuneralhome.com