Ionia County MI Archives Obituaries.....Bowen, Beatrice "Bea" Fern (Weeks) May 19, 2025 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/mi/mifiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Patricia Currigan currigan1932@concast.net June 25, 2025, 8:32 am Ionia Shopper's Guide - Saturday May 24, 2025 BOWEN Beatrice Fern (Weeks) Bowen, age 94, of Saranac, passed away on May 19, 2025. She was born on May 14, 1931 to Glenn and ethel (Compton)Weeks. Bea married Fred C.Bowen Jr. on November 22, 1947 and they had 72 years together before Fred passed in 2020. Bea was born into a talented family of six girls and one brother. All seven of the siblings int he family loved to sing and often gathered around the piano as a group to show their talent. Bea and her sisters occasionally sand in public as a group. On one special occasion, Bea was asked by the Tom Hagen band to sing a solo at Tootsie Van Kelly's in the Pantlind Hotel in Grand Rapids. She grew up on a farm and was a hard worker all her life. She was involved in 4-H as a youth and showed her dairy cow Vic, at the Ionia Free Fair. In later years, she beame a 4-H leader and remained active at the Free Fair.She drove school bus for 28 years and the kids learned very quickly that you had to behave on her bus! Vea was very independent and was able to live in her own home, by herself, until after she was 93 years old. Bea kept the books for Fred's business along with keeping up with her children's school activities, sports. Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts, and 4-H. Family was always important to Bea and Fred. They all worked together, played together and family gatherings were filled with laughter. Bea and Fred were members of the Easton United Methodist Church for many years and busy in church activities until their health no longer sallowed them to continue. Bea was preceded in death by her husband Fred, daughter-in-law Joan Bowen, son- in-law Barry Badge, her parents, sisters, and brother. She is survived by her children,Yvonne (Everett)Binder, Dennis (Nanci Zeran) Bowen, Cathy Badge, Tom(Jackie) Bowen, Brian(Kelly) Bowen, and Jeff (Paula) Bowen, 14 grandchildren, 22 great-grandchildren and 1 great-great-grandchild. The family would like to thank Green Acres of Lowell, Care Link Hospice and all the wonderful people who gave such loving care to out mother. A private celebration of Life will take place at a later date. Donations, in memory of Bea Bowen, may be made to the Easton United Methodist Church, 4970 Potters Road,Ionia,MI 48846 or to the Boston Saranac Historical Society, P.O.Box 565, Saranac,MI 48881. File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/mi/ionia/obits/b/bowen48991nob.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.net/mifiles/ File size: 2.9 Kb