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Gadie Mae (Meriwether) Bowden, 89, of Three Rivers, left this life on Aug. 6, 2010 at Riverview Manor Nursing Home, for a better life with her heavenly father. She was born Aug. 28, 1920 in Colp, Ill., the daughter of Pink and Mary Ella (Kyle) Meriwether.
Gadie attended schools in Beloit, Wis., graduating from Beloit High School and two years of business schooling at Beloit Vocational Adult School. She and the late Raymond Bowden were married June 15, 1941 in Chicago, Ill., moving to Three Rivers in 1942. While Raymond served his country during WWII, Gadie moved to Vancouver, Wash., to work in the shipyards, returning home after the war in 1946. She worked for Continental Can Co. for 15 years retiring in 1975.
Gadie was a life member of the Grant Chapel A.M.E. Church, being baptized in Bethel A.M.E. Church in Beloit, Wis., she joined Grant Chapel in 1942 and worked as an usher and was appointed steward in 1993. She was one of the charter members of the Free Will Ladies Club and served as president for many years.
Gadie was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Raymond; one daughter, Lynetta Brown; one grandson, Quentin Brown; one brother, George Fowlkes; sister, Pinkie Archie.
She leaves to cherish her memory two loving daughters, Kae E. Cassidy of Three Rivers and Gail R. Bowden of Chicago, Ill.; four grandchildren, Kim Thomas of Stone Mountain, Ga., Robin (Eddie) McPherson of Kalamazoo, Tyrone (Samella) Brown of Chicago, Ill.; 10 great-grandchildren; several sisters-in-law; many nieces, nephews, and cousins, and three special people, Howard Potts, Mark and Jeff Ellis, whom she took as her sons, and a host of friends.
Visitation will be held Friday, Aug. 13 from 5-7 p.m.at the Hohner Funeral Home.
Funeral Services will be held Saturday, Aug. 14 at 11 a.m. at the Hohner Funeral Home with Rev. Rebecca Mitchell officiating.
Interment will be held in Riverside Cemetery.
Memorials may be donated to the Grant Chapel A.M.E. Church Building Fund.
