Ava Dean Garrett Bowman

The second oldest of four (4) brothers born in Livingston, Tenn. on June 22, 1936, to Waylon Garrett and Vassie Lela Ayres Garrett moved to Indianapolis at the age of 18 and a few years later met my father, Clyde C. Bowman, at the Tee Pee Restaurant by the Marion County fairgrounds. They began their family shortly after with the birth of their first born, my brother, Forrest C. Bowman, then me, Penelope Faith Lewis (Bowman) and my brother, Randall C. Bowman. Penelope and her husband George blessed Ava and Clyde with three beautiful grandchildren, Kristine Rose Gale Lewis, Mary Lela Price (Lewis) and Eric George Lewis. Ava and Clyde were instrumental in raising their grandchildren and watch Kristine the first three years of her life, and Mary the first 18 months. Eric spent days at the Bowman farm growing up and helping his grandmother and father on the farm. My mother was tough but loving and always told my children that "no one will have their back like their mother". I knew my mother was physically strong when she would show the 18- and 19-year-old boys how to bail hay in her early 50's but I did not realize how strong my mother was mentally until the passing of my grandmother, her mother in 1990, the same year of the birth of her 1st grandchild, Kristine Rose Lewis. Then the devastating loss of her and my father's first born, my brother, Forrest C. Bowman. My mother expressed how proud she was of me in gaining an education and making educating a priority for our children especially since her mother was a schoolteacher. I cherish the clothes she made for the girls and the quilts like the one on her casket that are made from her dresses that her mother, my grandmother had patched. Mom would say to me she did not know how I worked outside the home and did everything I did, and I would say back to her that I do not know how she worked inside the home, the farm, and had time to make the girls clothes and quilts as well as an active member of Brownsburg Church of Christ. It is because of her that I have a strong faith today and each of my children was baptized in the name of our Lord, Jesus Christ. I love you mom and appreciate all you taught me and know that you will always be in our hearts. Rest in peace.  Services will be private.