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- ELIZABETHTON — Mr. John L. Bowers, Jr., 86, of Elizabethton, passed away on Thursday, September 23, 2010, at his residence.
He was the son of the late John L. Bowers Sr. and Winnie E. Morley Bowers and was born in Carter County. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Yvonne Bowers, on September 16, 2007; two sons, Richard Morley Bowers, August 14, 1952, Alan Nelson Bowers, August 2, 1962; a brother, Ralph Bowers Sr.; and three sisters, Virginia B. Bowers, Nelle B. Lubs and Christine Berniece Oglesby.
Mr. Bowers was educated in the public school system of Elizabethton and was a graduate of Elizabethton High School, where he was the President of the Student Body and Recipient of the Medal of Honor. He received the first diploma awarded from the "new" Elizabethton High School (presently T.A. Dugger Junior High).
He received a B.A. Degree (Cum Laude) from Vanderbilt University, where his undergraduate major was Business Administration, and he had a double minor in History and Political Science. He received his Doctorate of Jurisprudence Degree from Vanderbilt University School of Law. During his undergraduate and post-graduate time there, he was a member of Phi Beta Kappa, Order of the COIF (highest legal scholastic society) and the Case Editor for the Vanderbilt Law Review.
He received his license to practice law on November 3, 1951, from the Supreme Court of Tennessee. He was the senior partner of the Elizabethton Law Firm of Allen, Nelson and Bowers, where for nearly eighteen years, he practiced with the late Judge Roy C. Nelson. For 8½ years, from 1969-1977, he served as the United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Tennessee, which embraces 41 of Tennessee's 95 counties. He held this position under three United States Presidents. He was past president of the Carter County Bar Association and served as President of the Junior Section of the Bar Association of Tennessee.
Mr. Bowers served the City of Elizabethton as Mayor for two terms. He was a former Jaycees' Outstanding Young Man of the Year in Carter County; a past President of the Elizabethton Rotary Club with a 59 year record of perfect attendance; past President of the Elizabethton/Carter County Chamber of Commerce; a member of the Dashiell Masonic Lodge # 238 F. and AM; member Kingsport Court #183 Royal Order of Jesters; past President of the Elizabethton Shrine Club; past Commander of American Legion Post #49; past Exalted Ruler of the Elizabethton B.P.O. Elks Lodge #1847; past Director of the Watauga Historical Association; and former Vice-President of the Tennessee Area Council of the Boys and Girls Clubs of America.
Mr. Bowers was a former member of the Board of Trustees of Carson-Newman College; was a former member of and Secretary to the Board of Directors of Citizens Bank; was a founding member of the Board of Directors and became Director Emeritus of Shepherd's Inn on January 1, 2002. He was extremely active in Gideons International and joined the Elizabethton Chapter shortly after it was established in 1976.
He was a member of First Baptist Church, where he served as Deacon Emeritus since 2008 and was a member of the Foursquare Sunday School Class. Mr. Bowers was a veteran of the United States Marine Corps. Mr. Bowers was a prominent and outstanding member of the community who will be greatly missed by all who knew him.
He is survived by a daughter, Dr. Bege K. Bowers, Youngstown, OH; two sons and daughters-in-law, John L. Bowers III and his wife, Patricia Dove Bowers, and Gregory H. Bowers and his wife, Julie Harrill Bowers, all of Elizabethton; three granddaughters, Katie Bowers Harmon, Tallahassee, FL, Elizabeth Dove, Elizabethton, Kristy Glover, Kingsport; three grandsons, Jonathan A. Bowers, Alan Franklin Bowers and Daniel Raymond Bowers, all of Elizabethton; two great-grandsons, Nicholas Glover and Ryan Harmon; several nephews including Roger Lynn Bowers and his wife, Claire, Roger Duncan and his wife, Teri, Ralph Bowers and his wife, Carol, Ralph Howell, and Charles Buddy Howell; several nieces, including Debra Archer, Suzanne Bowling and her husband, Richard, Vicki Hood and her husband, Sonny; and a myriad of great-nephews and great-nieces.
The funeral service for Mr. Bowers will be conducted on Sunday, September 26, 2010, at 3:30 PM in the First Baptist Church, Elizabethton, with Dr. Jim Royston and Rev. Bob Polk officiating. Music will be under the direction of Rev. Tim Smith.
The family will receive friends in the church from 1:30-3:30 PM on Sunday prior to the service and at the residence of his son and daughter-in-law, Greg and Julie Bowers, at other times.
The graveside service and interment will be conducted on Monday, September 27, 2010, at 10:00 AM at Happy Valley Memorial Park. Active pallbearers will be Jonathan A. Bowers and the Deacons of First Baptist Church of Elizabethton. Honorary pallbearers will be the Chancellor and Judges of the First Tennessee Judicial District; members of the Carter County Bar Association; members of the Elizabethton Rotary Club; members of First Baptist Church and Foursquare Sunday School Class; members of the Elizabethton Gideons Camp; the staff, coaches, and players of the Elizabethton Twins organization; and his many friends, including Dewey Renfro; Bill Broome; Ron Campbell; Richard Barker; Joe Alexander; Charlie Bowman, and the staff of Elizabethton Wal-Mart. Military honors will be accorded by American Legion Post #49. Those wishing to attend are asked to meet at Tetrick Funeral Home, Elizabethton at 9:15 AM, Monday, to go in procession to the cemetery.
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Abt 1924 - 2010 (~ 86 years)
