Kay Bowley

Funeral Services for Frances "Kay" Bowley will be held on Friday, March 31, 2017 at 2:00 p.m. at the First United Methodist Church in Holdrege, Nebraska with Reverend Nora Mendyk officiating. Interment will follow at the Prairie Home Cemetery at Holdrege.

Frances Kay Bowley, 82 years of age, of Holdrege, passed away on Saturday, March 25, 2017 at the Christian Homes Care Community in Holdrege.

She was born August 8, 1934 on a farm northwest of Merna.  Kay was the second of five children born to Newell and Josephine (Burton) Leibhart.  Kay grew up on a farm northwest of Merna in Custer County.  She received her primary education at a rural school in Ortello Valley.  Kay and her brothers and sisters were very involved in 4-H and helping out on the family farm.  She attended high school at Merna, where she graduated from Merna High School with the class of 1951.  Kay enjoyed music, volleyball, and cheerleading while in high school.  Her senior year, she was crowned Color Day Queen and the summer following graduation, she was chosen runner up as the Custer County Rodeo Queen.

She began her normal training teaching career, following college coursework at Kearney State Teacher's College.  She began teaching in Custer County at the Sunshine School District #54 for two years.  Following that, she taught at the Consolidated Cliff School District #241.  She continued her education during the summers at Kearney State Teacher's College, while teaching to retain her teaching certificate.

On August 22, 1954, Kay was united in marriage to John W. Bowley.  Kay taught school and John spent his last year in the Army stationed at Fort Riley, Kansas.  Kay and John lived in Custer County for a summer, prior to moving to Milford, Nebraska, where John attended Milford State Trade School.  Terry Kay was born in Broken Bow on March 24, 1956 while John was going to school.  The Bowley's moved to Lexington, Nebraska in 1956, where John worked for Martin Electric.  While living in Lexington, William LaGene was born May 22, 1957, followed by Newell Lynn who was born October 7, 1958.  The family lived in Lexington until October, 1966.  While living in Lexington, Kay gave accordion and guitar lessons.

The family moved to Holdrege when John took a job at Becton-Dickinson on September 28, 1966.  Kay devoted her life to raising her three children, and in later years the majority of her time was spent caring for, and attending the activities of her grandchildren.

She was very active in her church, and giving back to her community as volunteering was always important to her.  The family were members of the First United Methodist Church.  At church, Kay served as a member of the United Methodist Women, taught Sunday School and Bible School, attended Bible Study, was a member of the bell choir, and later served as director of the bell choir (spending many hours transposing music to the enjoyment of many).  Kay was also active in the Phelps Memorial Hospital Auxiliary for many years.

She served as a Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts leader.  She received honors for serving many years at the Holdrege Public Library in the children's library, where she read stories to the children for story hour and was affectionately called, "the story hour lady".  It was her love of children that motivated her to have fun with children in the community each Halloween when she donned a witch costume, and handed out more than 200 apples most Halloween nights.  In 1993, Kay received the Volunteer of the Year Award presented by the Phelps County Community Foundation.

Kay had many dear friends she cherished in Lexington and Holdrege through playing softball, playing bridge, bowling on a league, coffee with friends, and the Friday Night Supper Club.  She maintained her love of God, children, music, singing with song birds and traveling throughout her life.

Kay was preceded in death by her parents: Newell and Josephine Leibhart; a brother, Keith Leibhart; and a granddaughter, Rachel Harrold.

Kay leaves to celebrate her life, her loving and faithful husband, John Bowley of Holdrege; daughter, Terry Sullivan and her husband, Barry of Loomis, Nebraska; two sons: William LaGene Bowley and his wife, Sandi of Eastman, Georgia, and Newell Lynn Bowley and his wife, Diane of Papillion, Nebraska; eleven grandchildren: Jeremiah Sullivan and his wife, Shanna, Jonathan Sullivan and his wife, Chelsea, Jason Sullivan and his wife, Jessica, Jessica Harrold and her husband, Jamie, Jennifer Calixte and her husband, Craig, Lizzette Sullivan, Destiny Sullivan, Dryden Bowley, Ariel Bowley, Ashley Cunningham and her husband, Dan and John L. Bowley; fourteen great grandchildren: Gavin, Noah, Qwentin, Asher, Jadia, Gianna, Porter, Ayva, Thomas, Alexander, Jadon, Reese, Jax, and Jayse; brother, Clair Leibhart and his wife, Lois of Ft. Morgan, Colorado; two sisters: Sharon Russell and her husband, Roger of Gretna, Nebraska and Cheryl Harmon and her husband, Gene of Grand Island, Nebraska; sister-in-law, Jeanne Leibhart of Merna; and many nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

Visitation will be held on Thursday, March 30, 2017 from 4:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. at the Nelson-Bauer Funeral Home with the family greeting from 6:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.

A memorial has been established in Kay's honor and will be designated at a later date.

Expressions of caring and kindness can be sent to the family at www.nelsonbauerfh.com .

The Nelson-Bauer Funeral Home in Holdrege is in charge of the arrangements.