(continued)

First education director
of the Bruce County Board
of Education dies at the age of 90

Obituary

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John “Jack” Laishley Bowers of Chesley, former RCAF Pilot, 422 & 426 Squadrons, Second World War, died at home, Friday, Feb. 3, 2012, in his 91st year.

Born to Shirley Clifton Bowers and Catherine Martyn on May 5, 1921, near Ripley, he grew up in Ripley attending primary school there. He spent his secondary school years at Ripley and Wingham. In 1940, he moved to Stratford, to attend Teachers’ College. One year later he moved to Courtright to begin teaching.

March 21, 1944, he married Mary (Betty) Elizabeth Terry in Atwood, and they had a family of four: Andrew, William, Donald and Margaret.

After the war, Bowers moved to Toronto where he lived from 1946 until 1953. While in Toronto, he attended the University of Toronto and received his Bachelors of Arts and Masters of Arts. 

In 1953, he moved back to Stratford where he taught at the Stratford Teachers' College and then became superintendent of elementary schools in Stratford.  In 1969, he moved to Chesley and became the superintendent and later the first education director for the Bruce County Board of Education.

He retired in 1986 and continued to reside in the area.

Predeceased by his beloved wife, Betty, in 2004.

Loved father of Andy and his partner, Susan Barkley of Morrisburg; Bill and his wife, Jocelyn of Walkerton; Don and his wife, Dorinda of Kincardine; and Margie and her husband, Stephen Blender of Owen Sound. He will be missed by his 11 grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren. 

Brother of Henrietta ‘Het’ McLeod of Kincardine and Margaret ‘Peg’ MacCharles of Ripley. He was predeceased by his sister, Annie Culbert and her husband Watt; his brothers-in-law, Sandy MacCharles and George McLeod; parents, Shirl and Kate (Martyn) Bowers. 

 
He is also predeceased by parents-in-law Andrew and Elizabeth (Huggins) Terry; brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law Rev. James and Eileen Terry, Jack and Margaret Hamilton; nephew John Hamilton; niece Laurie MacCharles and great-nephew Scott Donaldson. 

A memorial service celebrating Jack’s life was held at Geneva Presbyterian Church, Chesley, Thursday, Feb. 9, 2012 at 2 p.m., with Rev. Timothy Ferrier officiating.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations to the Chesley Hospital Foundation, Geneva Presbyterian Church, Canadian Cancer Society or the Bluewater Education Foundation for the Endowment Fund would be appreciated as expressions of sympathy.

Arrangements entrusted to the Rhody Family Funeral Home, Chesley.


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