Garth Lee Bowie |
| Posted 2018-04-02 by Judy Wight Branson |
| The Daily Courier, Prescott, Arizona Saturday, March 31, 2018, page 8a Garth Lee Bowie of Prescott and Tucson, Arizona, passed away March 16, 2018, at the age of 76. Garth is survived by his wife of 19 years, Judith Brummett-Bowie; daughters, Jennifer Bowie-Vencill and Leigh Holmes (Dustin); stepsons, Eric Boyd (Suze) and Thurman Pierce; grandchildren, Nichole Newton and Kyle Vencill; step-grandchildren, Jesse, Azaiza and Zara Boyd; and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins. Garth was preceded in death by his parents, William and Mary Bowie, and by his brothers, Arden and Brian Bowie. Garth was born and raised in Tucson, Arizona. He was proud to say he had been born at the Stork’s Nest in downtown Tucson, a safe alternative center where women could give birth when the town of Tucson had only one hospital. Garth’s was a close-knit family, where he and his siblings were taught by their dad and mom some of the highest values in life: humility, showing kindness to others, and not taking one’s self too seriously. As kids, he and his brother, Brian, learned a strong work ethic while helping their dad work their cotton farm. The brothers picked so much of the stuff that a teenaged Garth one day announced that he’d “never pick cotton again,” and turned to what became his lifelong obsession: building and driving hotrods. A prolific athlete, Garth excelled at high school basketball and football, and later, as an adult, settled on tennis as his sport of passion. He competed in tennis for many years, and was known to be a good-natured but formidable opponent on the court. With his easy manner and love of people, Garth enjoyed his early career as a salesman for both Pepsi-Cola and Century Papers, before establishing and running his own successful business in janitorial supplies. Garth retired comfortably at the age of 40. An extraordinary artisan, Garth then turned his focus on becoming a metal fabricator, eventually being known as one of the best. Many folks called him the “Amazing Metal Man.” He could build just about anything, and did. Over the years, Garth built most of his own homes, several huge buildings, and constructed thousands of metal pieces for special art projects and a host of cars, designing and building many of his own hotrods. Though they’d met during their high school years, Garth and Judy rediscovered their friendship and fell in love in 1992. Sharing a great fondness for Prescott, they moved here in 1996, designing and building their ultimate dream-house together: an exquisite Victorian-era home where they enjoyed 19 wonderful years of marriage. Garth’s reputation as a craftsman preceded he and Judy to Prescott, which led to their being swiftly embraced by a growing community of car buffs, engine experts, roadsters, and creative folk, many of whom remain dear friends to this day. Garth was loved by all, particularly for the respect and consideration he showed to those around him, and was always generous with his time. His brilliant smile and gentle manner put people immediately at ease. Out of his friends’ desire to see what “Garth was working on,” a weekly “car group” evolved, where men friends gathered by the dozens at Garth and Judy’s home for many years. Several of Garth’s friends described the meetings as “popular to locals and non-locals,” where folks who loved auto-craft would come to “sit at the feet of the master’.” Garth’s ordeal with dementia lasted for several years, and last July, he entered Margaret T. Morris, where he was cared for until his passing. We will miss his many “Garthisms,” his gracious, welcoming ways, his tender heart, disarming manner, and ever-buoyant spirit, but we are happy that his struggle is over, and that he is now with his beloved parents and brothers. Hampton Funeral Home is handling the arrangements. A celebration of Garth’s life is scheduled for a later date. Information provided by survivors. |
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