Lelan Douglas Bowers

Lee passed away peacefully on Sunday, May 11, 2008. He had been struggling recently with a recurrence of cancer. Lee was born on December 21, 1927, in Alameda, California, to Elizabeth Fagun-des Bowers and Raymond Bowers. Lee was always quick to say that he was raised by his very strict grandmother. Lee attended Oakland public schools, where he graduated from high school in 1945. Always looking for adventure, Lee joined the U.S. Marine Corps in December of 1945, and spent his enlistment stationed at the El Toro Marine Air Base in Santa Ana, California. Much of Lee's free time while stationed at El Toro was spent surfing at local beaches. After receiving his Honorable Discharge from the "Corps" in 1947, and looking for more adventure, Lee joined the U.S. Merchant Marines and sailed aboard a Standard Oil Co. tanker between San Francisco and Alaska. In 1948, Lee arrived in Fresno driving his pride and joy, a 1936 Ford 4-door custom Phaeton convertible. On August 9, of that year he married his childhood sweetheart, Billie Eudaly; in the fall he enrolled in Fresno State College to begin his quest for a degree in Business Administration. In his first year he joined the local Mu Alpha Delta fraternity; Lee was instrumental in taking the local fraternity to national status and became the first member of Sigma Nu at Fresno State. He was an active member of the Serra Club. Following graduation in the spring of 1952, Lee went to work for Producers Cotton Oil Company in their compress warehouse division, ultimately becoming manager of that division. In 1967, Lee was promoted to Director of Human Resources, a position he held at Producers until retirement in 1989. Lee was proud to have served two terms on the Fresno County Grand Jury in recent years. Lee Bowers was dedicated to getting the most of life; he traveled extensively throughout the world, he enjoyed sports and was good at many of them, participating in sailing, scuba diving, tennis, snow and water skiing, and jogging to name a few. Lee enjoyed fine food and wine and was an excellent cook. Art and art collecting were also passions for Lee. Lee's list of friends reads like a telephone book; he was kind and generous to a fault. Lee will be sorely missed! A Memorial Mass and a Celebration of Life will be held at St. Paul Newman Center, 1572 E. Barstow, Fresno, California, on Friday, June 13, 2008, at 11:00 a.m. Remembrances may be made to the Nancy Hinds Hospice, St. Paul Newman Center Catholic Church, or the donor's favorite charity. NEPTUNE SOCIETY Of Central California 1154 West Shaw Avenue Fresno, Ca. (559)222-7764