Pat Bowen

Frankie "Pat' Bowen was called to his Heavenly home on July 15, 2019. Pat was born on December 17,1933 in Matador, Texas to Willie Ezra Bowen and Minnie Corrine "Rena" Clifton Bowen. Pat grew up and attended school in Roaring Springs, TX and Portales, NM. While he attended high school in Portales, he met the love of his life, Doris Isbell. Pat and Doris were married on August 16,1953. Pat LOVED his wife and told her and everyone around on a daily basis. Pat loved his family and was very proud of his grandchildren as anybody who knew him would hear.

Pat received his undergraduate and Master's degrees from Eastern New Mexico University in Portales, NM. Pat also served this great country in the U.S. Army. He loved to tell stories about his time in the military including when Doris came to visit him, and she parked in the General's parking spot and the time he helped guard President Eisenhower. Pat loved this country and was honored to have served for it.

Pat began his teaching career in Williams, Arizona. He taught at Roswell High School and taught at Goddard when it first opened and at Eastern New Mexico University in Roswell. Pat retired in 1989 after thirty years of teaching. Pat was also a volunteer fireman in Roswell and served as Chief for the Berrendo Volunteer Fire Department for ten of those years. In addition to teaching and firefighting, Pat helped establish the Berrendo Water Coop. He farmed a small 20-acre alfalfa crop and Pat served as Treasurer at the First Baptist Church in Roswell where he and his family were active members for many years. Pat enjoyed horseback riding and the family fondly remembers the afternoon rides together.

After retiring, Pat and Doris built their own "barn-dominium" in the mountains between Ruidoso and Nogal, NM. Pat had quite a saddle and horse tack collection that he loved to show to people. Pat was a proud American who loved Christmas and John Wayne and kept his barn decorated that way year-round. Pat was a member of the First Baptist Church in Carrizozo, NM where he made some dear friends. Pat loved to make people laugh. He would be silly with doctors and care givers up to the end. Pat loved the Lord and knew where he was going when he finished this life here on Earth. His wife and family will miss him very much but look forward to the day when we will see him in Heaven. Pat is survived by his wife of 66 years, Doris Bowen, his children Randy currently of Roswell, Ronny and wife Christine Bowen of Kensington, CT and daughter Becky and husband Jay Hawkins of Buda, TX and his grandchildren Connor and Mackenzie Bowen and Madison and Makenna Hawkins. Pat is also survived by several other family members whom he loved deeply. Pat is preceded in death by his parents, his brothers Verlon and Don Bowen and infant granddaughter Gabrielle Hawkins.

The family would like to thank all his physicians, the staff at Kindred Hospice and the AWESOME care givers at Visiting Angels here in Roswell for the wonderful care they gave to Pat and his family. In lieu of flowers, Pat would have loved donations to be given to the New Mexico Baptist Children's Home in Portales, NM.