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Mary Bowne
Mary Bowne of Ludington, passed away peacefully on Sunday, March 2, 2025. She will be greatly missed by her children, Shawn Bowne, Traci Beckman, Chris (Holly) Bowne, Jeff (Candice) Bowne; her grandchildren, Ashleigh (Matthew) Pelto, Joshua (Dani) Bowne, Skylar (Alex) Detwiler; great-grandchildren, Logan Bowne, Kylie Bowne, Henry Pelto; her siblings, Bill Hinds, Tim (Jeannie) Hinds, Ann (Barry) Schihl, Mike (Dana) Hinds, Greg Hinds, Kathy Shillinger; her in-laws, Nancy Bowne, Carol Klotz, Bill (Leslie) Bowne, Debbie (Carl) Utz, along with numerous loving nieces, nephews, and friends.
Mary was preceded in death by her husband, Robert (Bob) Bowne; her parents, Barbara Margaret (Brown) Hinds and Captain James Albert Hinds; her siblings, James Albert Hinds II, Barbara (Bobbie) Hinds, Dan Hinds, and in-laws, Rodger (Rod) Beckman, Patricia (Patsy) Hinds, Jerry Bright, John (Leo) Bowne, Wendell and Elise Knudsen, Bob and Peggy Martin, Harvey and Joanne Silver, Don Bowne, Jim Shillinger, and her beloved best dog friend, Toby.
There is a story in the Bible from the book of Acts (9:36-43) about a miracle performed for a female disciple of Jesus who blessed her community through her God-given gift of sewing. When one reads this story, one can’t help but think of Mary. Her gift goes back to when Mary was very young and worked to earn her own money, much of which went to purchase the fabric she used to sew her own clothing. Throughout her life, Mary’s masterful needlework touched countless lives – from family members to friends to those in need. She had an artist’s eye for fabric combinations, creating treasures that brought warmth and beauty into people’s homes: beautiful quilts, napkins with perfectly mitered corners, and an array of lovingly crafted pillows, aprons, coasters, placemats, and table runners.
Mary graduated from St. Simon High School in 1960, and married Bob Bowne on July 16 of that year at St. Stanislaus Church in Ludington. As a young woman, she worked at the Park Dairy, JCPenney, and Gibbs Restaurant. She also volunteered at school and held many other jobs before – at the age of 40 – Mary decided to go to college. She earned an associate degree in applied arts and sciences from St. Clair County Community College and went on to become a medical transcriptionist, medical biller, and then an office manager.
Mary and Bob’s journey together took them across the country – from living in a variety of cities in Michigan, to homes in West Virginia, Maryland, Alabama, Virginia, and Texas. They embraced each relocation as an adventure, delighting in exploring the quaint towns that surrounded their various homes. Mary treasured their vacations together, as well as her later-life visits to Florida where she spent cherished time with her sister Barb Hinds and in-laws Dick and Dee Bowne.
Faith was a cornerstone of Mary’s life. She was an active member of St. Simon Catholic Church of Ludington. She served on the school board there, and became a eucharistic minister, serving during Mass and bringing Communion to the homebound. She loved applying her trademark sewing and crafting abilities to create donated items for the parish’s annual Applefest Fundraiser, as well as providing baked goods, and selling meal and raffle tickets for the event. Mary was a long-time member of the Catholic Daughters. And for many years she regularly spent an hour in prayer each week at the Perpetual Adoration Chapel.
In addition to sewing, Mary pursued a variety of hobbies that showcased her creativity and zest for life. She was an avid reader and a passionate gardener who took pride in her beautiful flower gardens; she delighted in giving tours of her lush blooms. Her artistic spirit led her to explore many crafts over the years, from creating ceramic pieces to painting decorative T-shirts and shoes. Each holiday season, she transformed her home with festive decorations that brought joy to everyone who visited. Mary also loved to play games. Her sweet nature belied a secret competitive spirit, and she found great joy in playing (and winning!) games with family and friends, such as Scrabble, cribbage, pinochle, Yahtzee, and so many more.
She enjoyed attending events her grandkids participated in, and if you stopped by to visit her more recently, you could always count on her sharing her delight in the latest photos and videos of her great-grandchildren with you.
Mary wished to extend a warm thank you for the special visits from her sister and friend Ann, her niece Sarah, and great nephew Emerson. And a special thank you to her angel helpers, Corrine and Laurie.
Mary was a survivor of breast cancer, osteoporosis, and was a steadfast warrior against the effects of Parkinson’s Disease. If you’d like to honor her memory with a donation, please contribute to Lakeshore Food Pantry or Caritas Food Pantry.
Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11 a.m., Friday, March 7, 2025, at St. Simon Catholic Church in Ludington, with Father Dan DePew presiding. Interment will be in the Pere Marquette Catholic Cemetery in the spring. Visitation will be held from 5 to 7 p.m., Thursday, March 6, 2024, at Beacon Cremation & Funeral Service, Pere Marquette Chapel with a praying of the Rosary at 6:45 p.m. Visitation will also be held at the church on Friday from 10 a.m. until time of Mass.
Beacon Cremation & Funeral Service is in charge of arrangements.
