William Henry Bowers

William married Elizabeth Ann "Liza" Hackett on 12 Feb 1871 in Carter County, , , Tennessee. Elizabeth was born in Mar 1856 in , Giles County, Tennessee, . [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Daniel married Bertha Oliver about 1902 in , Giles County, Tennessee, . Bertha (daughter of Elijah D. H. Oliver and Matilda Collins) was born on 10 Feb 1888 in Carter County, , , Tennessee; died in SP 1978 in Greene County, , , Tennessee; was buried in Onks Cemetery, , Washington County, Tennessee. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Lawson G Smith and James L Bowers, both from Fish Springs, were brothers-in-law and best friends. They were both shot to death during an argument at a pie supper on March 15, 1913. The argument was over "outsiders" from Siam who some of the local girls had invited to the supper. That didn't set well with Lawson and Jim, and at some point in the evening, "Bowers and Smith finished their supper, left their seats and walked hurriedly" toward the boys from Siam, where the two "attacked the boys viciously." The outsiders pulled out their concealed pistols and shot Jim and Lawson. "Bowers was shot at such close range that the front of his double-breasted blue serge suit was set on fire. . . . A few seconds later, Lawson Smith fell heavily as the well-aimed bullets riddled his body" (pg. 17). Timbs writes that not too long before their tragic deaths, they had been warned by an elderly resident to "'settle down and stop all this trouble making.'" Jim Bowers' reply: "'I'll never settle down. I want to die with my boot on'" (17).

Jim Bowers and his best friend, Lawson Smith, were buried side by side in a single grave, originally at the old Fish Springs Cemetery (aka Smith Cemetery). Their remains were reinterred at Rittertown Baptist Church Cemetery near Hampton due to the TVA Watauga project. Their epitaph reads: "Let our Father's will be done."

This story is taken from Mountain Memories: Stories of Old Fish Springs, Tennessee, by Lawrence C. Timbs, 1968 (self-published). Lawrence Timbs admits that many versions of this story have been reported; however, he selected this version, he says, from an eye witness, "which in my opinion comes closer to factual information than all the others."

James married Nellie O. Smith on 15 Feb 1908 in Carter County, , , Tennessee. Nellie (daughter of William G. Brownlow Smith and Mary Elizabeth "Mollie" Matheson) was born in Mar 1889 in Carter County, , , Tennessee; died about 1973 in Carter County, , , Tennessee; was buried in Rittertown Baptist Church Cemetery, , Carter County, Tennessee. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

George married Esse E. Stout on 4 Jul 1914 in Carter County, , , Tennessee. Esse (daughter of Anderson K. Stout and Julia Ann Cassidy) was born about 1895; died on 2 Jul 1991 in Carter County, , , Tennessee; was buried in Happy Valley Memorial Park, , Carter County, Tennessee. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Ella married Joseph Wheeler Hicks on 22 Oct 1921 in Sullivan County, , , Tennessee. Joseph (son of Robert Lee Hicks and Martha Rebecca Lyon) was born on 28 Dec 1898 in Sullivan County, , , Tennessee; died on 23 Feb 1937 in Washintgon County, , , Tennessee; was buried in Onks Cemetery, , Washington County, Tennessee. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Smith married Luella Vines about 1930 in , Giles County, Tennessee, . Luella was born on 1 Feb 1915 in Washintgon County, , , Tennessee; died on 19 Sep 2003 in Knox County, , , Tennessee; was buried in Eastview Memorial Gardens, , Knox County, Tennessee. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Mrs. Ora Glenna Oliver, 79, 982 Old Gray Station Road, Gray, died Saturday, April 3, 1999, at her residence following a lengthy illness.

Mrs. Oliver was a native of Sullivan County but had lived most of her life in Washington County. She was a daughter of the late Daniel and Bertha Oliver Bowers and was also preceded in death by her husband, Robert Paul Oliver, in 1994, four brothers and four sisters.

Mrs. Oliver was a homemaker and a member of Midway Baptist Church.

Survivors include two daughters, Janette Foxx Conley and Carolyn Gouge, both of Gray; a son, Robert Wayne Oliver, Johnson City; a brother, Howell Bowers, Chuckey; three granddaughters, Cindy Oliver Walker, Jana Gouge Wilson and Tammy Oliver Wilson; and a grandson, Jay P. Gouge. Four great-grandsons, a great-granddaughter and several nieces and nephews also survive.

Morris-Baker Funeral Home, 2001 Oakland Avenue, Johnson City, (423) 282-1521, is in charge of arrangements.

OLIVER -- Funeral services for Mrs. Ora Glenna Oliver, 79, 982 Old Gray Station Road, Gray, who died Saturday, will be conducted at 8 p.m. Monday at the Morris-Baker South Chapel with Rev. William Taylor officiating. Graveside services will be at 11 a.m. Tuesday at Monte Vista Burial Park. Those attending are invited to meet at the funeral home by 10:40 a.m. Tuesday to go in procession to the cemetery. Active pallbearers will be Jay Gouge, Richard Wilson, Todd Walker, Lee Wilson, Erik Hilton and Michael Wilson.

Ora married Robert Paul Oliver about 1937 in , Giles County, Tennessee, . Robert (son of John Wesley Oliver and Nancy Anne Boyer) was born on 16 Nov 1910 in , Giles County, Tennessee, ; died on 29 Jan 1994 in Washintgon County, , , Tennessee; was buried in Monte Vista Memorial Park, , Washington County, Tennessee. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Lt. Col. (ret.) Floyd H. Bowers USAF (Retired), age 88, of Division Street, Elizabethton, died Friday, Feb. 11, 2005, at his residence following a brief illness. A native of Carter County, he was a son of the late George T. and
Essie Stout Bowers. Lt. Col. Bowers retired from the United States Air Force after 25 years of service. He was a combat veteran serving during WWII, flying in B-17 and B- 24's. He was awarded several WWII combat ribbons and the Air
Force Commendation Medal. Lt. Col Bowers also served during the Korean Conflict. He retired as Lieutenant Colonel with a B-52 crew.

Mr. Bowers was a member of the First Baptist Church of Elizabethton.

He was a graduate of Elizabethton High School, and received his B.S. degree from Milligan College in 1941, and his Masters degree from the University of Tennessee in 1949. Mr. Bowers had his first teaching job at Horseshoe Dam,
Carter County. He taught at Tennessee Technology School at Elizabethton, Happy Valley High School, Elizabethton High School, Hampton High School, and T.A Dugger Jr. High School. Mr. Bowers was a member of the Dashiell Masonic Lodge
#238 F&AM, and was a Shriner, and a member of the Jericho Temple. He is preceded in death by a brother, William A. Bowers.

The funeral service will be conducted at 8 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 13, 2005, in the Riverside Chapel of Tetrick Funeral Home, with the Rev. Brent Seals officiating. The eulogy will be presented by Mr. Edward Bowers. Music will be
under the direction of Mr. John Bunn. The graveside service and interment will
be conducted at 11 a.m. Monday, Feb. 14, at Happy Valley Memorial Park, Elizabethton, with full military honors provided by Shaw Airforce Base Honor Guard, Sumter, S.C.

Floyd married Mildred Ruby Nave on 8 Dec 1941 in Carter County, , , Tennessee. Mildred (daughter of William McKinley Nave and Laura Elizabeth Nidiffer) was born about 1922 in Carter County, , , Tennessee; died on 3 Jan 2016 in Carter County, , , Tennessee; was buried in Happy Valley Memorial Park, , Carter County, Tennessee. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

ELIZABETHTON - Betty Lou Hicks Shirley, 85, Elizabethton went home to be with her Lord Monday, April 8, 2019 at the Johnson City medical Center.

Born December 3, 1933 in Johnson City to the late Joseph & Armitta Bowers Hicks. She came to Elizabethton at an early age to live with her Uncle & Aunt: Albert & Grace Hicks. She was a 1952 graduate of Elizabethton High School. Betty was an active member of Calvary Baptist Church, where she was active in the WMU serving as Director and she loved working in Vacation Bible School. She was a homemaker, loved to cook, sew, and go camping and spending winters in Florida. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband of 65 years: Eddie M. Shirley who passed away January 16, 2018, by a granddaughter, Rachael Whaley, her sisters: Irene Greene and Ada Mae Byrd, her brother: Joe Hicks and a sister-in-law: Betty Jean Shirley.

Survivors include her children: Debra Sanders & husband David, Johnson City, Eddie Martin Shirley II & wife Jane, Knoxville, Keith Shirley & wife Barbara, Kingsport and Diane Whaley & husband Mike, Gray. Eight Grandchildren: Jamie Singer, Aaron McGhee, Andrea Hamilton, John Shirley, Josh Lane, Andrew Whaley, Joey Sanders and Matthew Sanders. Eleven Great Grandchildren: Caroline, Ellie, Max, Kaelynn, Carsen, Henry, Lena, Brook, Jackson, Valeria and Allison. Her Siblings: Charles Hicks, Kingsport, Phyllis Sparks & husband Hartsell, Jonesborough, Kenneth Walker & wife Mabel, Johnson City and Eileen Blevins & husband Ron, Limestone. Several nieces & nephews. Her sister-in-law: Georgia McClain.

Funeral Services will be conducted at 7 p.m. Thursday in Memorial Funeral Chapel with Dr. Joe Sorah and Pastor Steve Pate officiating. Graveside Service and Interment will be at 11 a.m. Friday, April 12, 2019 in Happy Valley Memorial Park with Pastor Jacob Guinn officiating. Music will be provided by Austin Mitchell, Soloist and Tina South, Pianist. Active Pallbearers will be grandsons and a very special friend Jimmy Street. Honorary Pallbearers will be her church family. The family would like to express a special "Thank You" to the staff of Agape Nursing Home and Rehab.

Betty married Living [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]