Carolyn Bowles
Carolyn Minerva Bowles of Draper, UT (formerly of Norristown, Pa.) passed peacefully from this life on August 12, 2015 surrounded by her loving family. At age 87 years young she longed to be reunited with her beloved husband Harry who preceded her in death seven years ago.
Carolyn was born on October 29, 1927 and was the first child for Harold K. Scheirer and Anna Mae Kropf Scheirer of Pottstown, Pennsylvania. Shortly thereafter she was joined by her brother Franklin (Buddy) and much later to everyone’s surprise, a second brother Harold (Peanut) came along. She always spoke fondly of traveling to the family home in Cape May where she and her brother Buddy would canoe and swim all day. When she and Buddy were older they loved to double date and dance the night away. Mom often spoke of how very much she just loved her baby brother Peanut when he came along.
She attended Norristown High School and The Reading Hospital School of Nursing (Class of 1950). Mom worked on the fifth floor at the original Montgomery Hospital and then later in her career she worked for Charles K. Mervine MD. She loved being a nurse and taking care of all her patients. Recently she wrote an autobiography for her grandsons and the over arching theme was how much being a nurse meant to her. It was her dream and her life second only to her family.
June 20th, 1953 Carolyn married Harry Bowles of Collegeville, Pa. and they were together for 55 years. They were best friends and lovers through the adventure of life and parenthood. It seems they shared a very rare and special bond rarely seen today. Carolyn is survived by her daughter Nancy (Dan) and grandsons Benjamin and Matthew Reading. Her son David and his children Harry, Shayne, Katie and Casey Bowles also survive her.
Her husband was her rock and her grandchildren her delight. She spent many days and nights with the Harry, Shayne, Kate and Casey and those times were some of her fondest memories. Vacations to the shore and trips to the music fair were some of the highlights. Carolyn moved to Utah two years after Harry died and has spent the past five years here. She enjoyed going to the movies and dinner while getting lost with Ben (as a new driver). She shared her days at home in the loving care of Matthew for whom she kept a great supply of M&Ms. Saturdays were shopping and lunch out days for mom and I. She and her son in law Dan were the funniest of verbal sparing partners and kept us all entertained, although he cared for her lovingly.
Carolyn attended the Draper Senior Center after her move and the days she attended were the highlight of her week. She made many new and wonderful friends there and was especially close to Karen. She attended mass regularly at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church and was an active member of the ladies association.
A Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Tuesday, August 18th at 11:00 AM at St. John The Baptist Parish, 300 East 11800 South, Draper, where a viewing will be held one hour prior to the service. All are welcome. In lieu of flowers feel free to make donations to the Draper Senior Center so that others can enjoy the service in years to come. Carolyn will be laid to rest with her husband in Pennsylvania.