Obituary for Mary Catherine "Mae" Bowers (Green)
Mary “Mae” Catherine Bowers, 86, of Martinsburg, passed away on Monday, October 14, 2019 at the Berkeley Medical Center.
Born January 24, 1933 in Cumberland, MD she was the daughter of the late Albert F. (Bobby) Green and Mary Catherine Green. She was a 1951 graduate of St. Mary’s High School in Cumberland. She married Melvin (Mel) Bowers on May 24, 1952 and enjoyed sixty-two years of marriage until his death on December 23, 2014.
In her youth she was an avid swimmer and duck pin bowler, at one time holding the duck-pin world record for high game by a female under the age of eighteen. Upon moving to Martinsburg in 1961 she began bowling ten pins and bowled in several leagues until a bad back forced her to “retire” from the game.
In later years, she had been a den mother to Cub Scout Pack 66, a volunteer teacher’s aide at St. Joseph grade school, and a volunteer cook at the school. She also had been very active in the PTA and fundraising events at the school.
With Mel, she raised four children and then helped in the raising of her nine grandchildren each of whom she cherished. Upon Mel’s retirement they enjoyed traveling the country along with her sisters and brothers-in-law. She visited 48 of the fifty states in her travels trying to reach and stay in all fifty.
She is survived by her three daughters, Mary C. Millay and husband, Tom of Kearneysville, Jo Anne Solano and husband, Jay of Martinsburg, and Joy Vitanza of Martinsburg; one son, Melvin M. Bowers, Jr. and wife, Linda of Charles Town; her nine grandchildren Tommy, Melvin, Joey, Leanne, Shirley, Michelle, Jennifer, Lauren, and Jack; she also had seventeen great-grandchildren; and was awaiting the birth of her first great-great-grandchild in December.
Mae is also survived by her sister Rose (Mickey) Shaffer who throughout her life had been her best friend as well as sister and Ron who was more of a brother than a brother-in-law and several nieces and nephews.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her two brothers, Bob and Dick; two sisters, Shirley and Joy; brother-in-law, Ferris; sister-in-law, Betty and two sons-in-law, Mike and Gary.
Mae was a member of the Catholic faith and attended St. Joseph’s Church in Martinsburg.
Family will receive friends on Thursday, October 17, 2019 from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. and 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at Brown Funeral Home.
Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Friday, October 18, 2019 at 10:00 a.m.at St. Joseph Catholic Church with Father Tom Gallagher celebrant.
Interment prayers will be said in St. Leo Cemetery.
Born January 24, 1933 in Cumberland, MD she was the daughter of the late Albert F. (Bobby) Green and Mary Catherine Green. She was a 1951 graduate of St. Mary’s High School in Cumberland. She married Melvin (Mel) Bowers on May 24, 1952 and enjoyed sixty-two years of marriage until his death on December 23, 2014.
In her youth she was an avid swimmer and duck pin bowler, at one time holding the duck-pin world record for high game by a female under the age of eighteen. Upon moving to Martinsburg in 1961 she began bowling ten pins and bowled in several leagues until a bad back forced her to “retire” from the game.
In later years, she had been a den mother to Cub Scout Pack 66, a volunteer teacher’s aide at St. Joseph grade school, and a volunteer cook at the school. She also had been very active in the PTA and fundraising events at the school.
With Mel, she raised four children and then helped in the raising of her nine grandchildren each of whom she cherished. Upon Mel’s retirement they enjoyed traveling the country along with her sisters and brothers-in-law. She visited 48 of the fifty states in her travels trying to reach and stay in all fifty.
She is survived by her three daughters, Mary C. Millay and husband, Tom of Kearneysville, Jo Anne Solano and husband, Jay of Martinsburg, and Joy Vitanza of Martinsburg; one son, Melvin M. Bowers, Jr. and wife, Linda of Charles Town; her nine grandchildren Tommy, Melvin, Joey, Leanne, Shirley, Michelle, Jennifer, Lauren, and Jack; she also had seventeen great-grandchildren; and was awaiting the birth of her first great-great-grandchild in December.
Mae is also survived by her sister Rose (Mickey) Shaffer who throughout her life had been her best friend as well as sister and Ron who was more of a brother than a brother-in-law and several nieces and nephews.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her two brothers, Bob and Dick; two sisters, Shirley and Joy; brother-in-law, Ferris; sister-in-law, Betty and two sons-in-law, Mike and Gary.
Mae was a member of the Catholic faith and attended St. Joseph’s Church in Martinsburg.
Family will receive friends on Thursday, October 17, 2019 from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. and 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at Brown Funeral Home.
Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Friday, October 18, 2019 at 10:00 a.m.at St. Joseph Catholic Church with Father Tom Gallagher celebrant.
Interment prayers will be said in St. Leo Cemetery.