BOWLIN, Mary

The Wickenburg Sun, Wickenburg, Arizona Wednesday, October 15, 2014 Services have been held for Mary Bowlin, 52, of the Rim Rock Ranch in the Ima Valley of New Mexico. Mary passed away Sept. 21, 2014, at the Senior Community Assisted Living in Santa Rosa, N.M., following an illness. She was born April 24, 1962, in Yakima, Wash., to the home of Ralph and Mary (Watson) Gallagher. She grew up in Wickenburg where she graduated from Wickenburg High School in 1980. She married Michael Bowlin on Feb. 29, 1980, at the First Southern Baptist Church in Wickenburg. Mary and Michael made their home working on ranches in Arizona, Utah, and New Mexico. They lived in the Ima Valley from 1994-96, in McAlister, N.M., 1996-2001, and since 2001 were living at Rim Rock Ranch in Ima Valley. Mary enjoyed quilting and reading. As a young lady she was a member of Rainbow Girls. Mary was a member of First Baptist Church in House, NM. Mary was a homemaker, mother and a ranch wife for several years. She began taking online college courses through Clovis Community College in 1997, and later attended Eastern New Mexico University where she received her bachelors degree in 2000. She taught at House Schools from 2000-12. During those years she continued her college education and received her Masters Degree in Education from Eastern New Mexico University in 2007. Mary is preceded in death by her parents, and a granddaughter Isabela Armendariz who died Aug. 17, 2014. Survivors include her husband Michael Bowlin of Ima Valley; two daughters Ada Kafka and her husband Walter of Albuquerque, and Lora Armendariz and husband Jovani of Albuquerque; two sons Benjamin Bowlin of Clovis, and Joseph Bowlin of Ima Valley; five grandchildren Samuel, Nathan, and Liam Kafka, Adala and Micaela Armendariz; also surviving are three siblings, a sister Lucy Thompson of Wittmann, and two brothers Frank Gallagher of Wickenburg, and John Gallagher of Morristown along with many other family members and a host of friends. To place an online tribute or sign the guest book go to www.chavezfuneralhome.com