Rachel E. Bowles

Rachel Emma Britain Bowles passed away quietly on June 21, 2015 in Durant, Ok at the age of 95. She was born in Verdan, Ok on Sept 17, 1919, to Blake James Britain and Ethel Jaynes Britain. In 1925 the family moved to Shawnee where her father operated several cotton gins. Rachel attended Woodrow Wilson grammar school, Shawnee Jr. High, Shawnee High School and was the Senior Class President. In 1937 she left Shawnee to attend Lindenwood College in St. Charles Mo. In 1938 she transferred to Oklahoma University where she received her B.S. degree in business. While at OU she was a member of Chi Omega sorority and several campus organizations including the OU intermural board. After graduating OU in 1941 she moved to Dallas TX where she was employed as executive assistant to the President of Dallas Power and Light. In 1943 she returned to Shawnee to help her Mother while her brother Jack served in the Navy during WWII. Even though she was hesitant to move home, this event changed her life forever because she met the love of her life, Jamie Bowles while attending St. Paul’s United Methodist Church. In 1945 they were married in that same church. She and Jamie owned and operated Marquis Furniture on Main Street for over 35 years. Rachel was active in the Shawnee Downtown Association, Shawnee Chamber of Commerce, St. Paul's United Methodist Church, Friends of the Library and Salvation Army. Rachel was a Sustaining Member of Shawnee Jr. Service League, Shakespeare Club, Chi Omega Alumni Assoc., O.U. Alumni Assoc & Pott. County Historical Society. In 2007 she moved to Durant to be closer to her daughter and son in law. While in Durant she attended First United Methodist Church and became a member of PEO Chapter DJ at age 90. Even though she had only lived in Durant for two years at the time, over 60 people from Durant attended her 90th birthday party. Her greatest love and joy was her family. She loved hosting parties, participating in Blue Birds & Scouts, Little League, Campfire Girls, Chaperoning Tri Hi Y dances, volunteering as a Homeroom Mother, driving a carload of kids to any event any time and enduring endless slumber parties and tennis practices always with a smile. She made every holiday and birthday special by decorating the house and included every family member to share the occasion. Rachel had a wonderful sense of humor, loved a good laugh, but most importantly was a good listener. She never met a stranger and cherished every friend she had as well as all her children's friends. She and Jamie loved to travel. Their many trips took them to almost every continent, but her favorite travels were family vacations every year to Colorado and later, summers in Jackson Hole with her grandsons. She instilled in her children to first have a strong faith in God, be kind to all you meet, live life to the fullest, finish what you start and always help those less fortunate. She is proceeded in death by her husband James E. Bowles, parents Blake Britain and Ethel Waldorf and brother Jack Britain. She is survived by her daughter Susan Bowles Wood and husband Val, son Dr. Jim Bowles and wife Joy, grandsons Clint Bowles and spencer Bowles. Nephew Jack P. Bowles and wife Jan, Nephew Robert O. Bowles and wife Linda and niece Betty Bowles Ashford and husband George, nephews Richard, Mark and Donald Britain and her lifelong best friend of 90 years, Odie Frantz. The family would like to acknowledge and thank the staff and management of Sterling House of Durant for all the loving care of Rachel during her stay there. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to St. Paul’s United Methodist Church. Memorial services will be 1:30 P.M. Thursday, June 25, 2015 at Walker Funeral Service Chapel.