Gene Bowers was a great guy — a teacher and principal and school superintendent. In the early eighties Sheila got a job at Floyd Junior College (now Georgia Highlands College) in a grant program administered by Gene’s wife, Adrian. That resulted in Gene and I getting thrown together at a FJC Foundation annual meeting.
Exchanging small talk at that event, I discovered that Gene was the former superintendent of Fayette County schools, so of course I mentioned my roots in the hamlet of Inman in Fayette County. Gene said he had roots in Inman too. I told him my great great grandfather Bogan Mask is buried there at Inman United Methodist Church cemetery. He replied that his great great granddaddy is also Bogan Mask!
Bogan Mask |
That’s how Gene and I discovered that we are second cousins.
As a result of that he also became acquainted with my Mother and they visited several times including at least once with another cousin Roger Mask and Sarah Jane Overstreet who is a more distant cousin and has done a lot go genealogical research on the family.
L-R: My Mother (Ruth Shaw), another cousin whose name I can't recall, Gene, Adrian circa early 2000s. |
Gene died early this morning. He was 97 years old. He will be greatly missed by all who knew him.
Gene with Sheila and me at my Mother's funeral in 2021. |
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From Maria Bowers 's Facebook page today:
My amazing father, Gene Bowers, entered the gates of Heaven and walked into eternity in the early morning hours today. He was received into the arms of Jesus. He was reunited with my mom, whom he has missed desperately for the past eight years since her passing.He has been the most amazing husband to mom, father to me and my sister and brothers, Papa to 9 grandchildren and 10 great grandchildren, and friend and teacher to so many.
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