BOWDEN, Shirley E.

Shirley E. Bowden, 66, loving wife, mother, grandmother, sister, aunt and friend, passed away on February 28th, 2004, surrounded by her loving family. She is survived by her husband of 49 years, Dee Bowden; two brothers, Roger Clark of Washington and Gerald Beam of California; three sisters, Irene Williams of Kansas, Bobbie Potts of California and Pearl Goldbaum of Arkansas; two sons, Mark Bowden and Keith Bowden, both of Phoenix; one daughter, Linda Gorman of Phoenix; two daughters-in-law, Sheryl Bowden and Sandy Bowden, both of Phoenix; one son-in-law, Chris Gorman of Phoenix; and 8 grandchildren, Amanda, Kyle, Tyler, Travis, Evan, Shaye, Noah and Cassandra, all of Phoenix. Shirley was born in Bonanza, Arkansas on August 15, 1937 and moved to Salinas, California at a young age. There, she met and married her high school sweetheart, Dee Bowden. Dee and Shirley moved to Phoenix shortly after they were married in 1955, where they raised a family and created a loving home for the next 49 years. For over a decade beginning in the late 1970's, Shirley owned the Bargain Spot, a central Phoenix consignment shop, where she was known as a warm and caring person with a wonderful sense of humor who never met a person she didn't like. For the remainder of her life, she continued to touch the hearts of everyone she knew, remaining an inspiration and a hero to us all. Shirley was a brave, loving and extremely giving person who will be greatly missed, but will remain in our hearts forever. A memorial service was held on Wednesday, March 3rd, at Hansen Mortuary, 8314 N. 7th Street, Phoenix, followed immediately by the burial at Resthaven Cemetery in Glendale. Published in the Arizona Republic on 3/2/2004.