Funeral services for Margaret Jean Bowman, 91, of Early, will be held at 3:00 pm Saturday, September 3, 2016 at the First United Methodist Church in Brownwood. Burial will follow at Eastlawn Memorial Park. Visitation will be held from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Friday at Heartland Funeral Home
She died on Wednesday, August 31, 2016 at her home.
Margaret Jean Morgan Bowman was born March 25, 1925, in Brownwood to Ray and Lollie Mansfield Morgan. She graduated from Brownwood High School in 1943 and attended Daniel Baker College, Howard Payne College and the University of California before marring J.W. Matlock. She was a charter member of Beta Sigma Phi and received a 65-year membership award in 2008. She worked as secretary for Brownwood Housing Authority during its construction and Brown County Health Department before moving to Austin where she set up the cancer registries working for the State Health Department. In 1969 she married L.B. Bowman and moved back to Brownwood and became secretary and treasurer of United Travelers Insurance Company. She and L.B. purchased the old USO/Adams Street Community Center from the City of Brownwood and moved it to its current location as the Travelers Steak House. She was preceded in death by her husband, L.B. Bowman, one brother, Dr. Ray M. Morgan.She loved her family, her church and was very active in the community serving as President of the Rotary Ann Club, member of Beta Sigma Phi, a board member of Good Samaritan for several years and member of the Brownwood Woman’s Club where she was made honorary member at age 90. As a lifetime member of First United Methodist Church she sang in the choir and was one of the remaining members of the Peggy Boone Sunday school class. She and L.B. were active in the Shriners and enjoyed going and traveling with them. After retiring, they traveled extensively in the US, Canada and even to Europe to see where L.B. hit the beaches of Normandy. She really loved the game of bridge playing in several groups and teaching it in her home weekly.
Survivors include her three children, Myretta and Bill Elliott of Lafayette, LA, Charles Matlock of Early, and Kay and Perry Templeton of Lake Granbury; and grandchildren Richard and David Elliott, Candice Littrell, Katelyn Pettibone, Craig Dehnel, Christi Duckworth, Brandy Davis and Brad Templeton; 11 great grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Special thanks from the family to Dr. Steve Oines and his nurse Jessica, the Early Fire Department and Police Department and EMS.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials be made to: The Shriners Hospital, Good Samaritan Ministries and the First United Methodist Church.
Condolences can be offered to the family at heartlandfuneralhome.net.
