Dr. Winifred Bowers

Dr. Winifred Bowers

Winifred J. Bowers, 85, Ozark, passed away at 7:48 p.m., Wednesday, September 26, 2012 in North Park Village, Ozark. She was born September 5, 1927 in Red Cloud, Nebraska, the daughter of the late Lincoln and Levilla (Campbell) Mudd. She was united in marriage in June, 1948 to Frank W. Bowers. He preceded her in death in 1992. She was also preceded in death by a sister, Vada Byrd. Winifred moved to Missouri at the age of two and settled with her family in Diggins, Missouri. Her elementary school years were spent in Diggins and Seymour Schools. She accepted Christ at an early age and dedicated her life to a Christian journey. She was sixteen years of age when she taught her first school term in a two-room school. She continued teaching in the rural schools of Webster County until she completed her B.S. degree at SMSU in 1952. She then started teaching in the Seymour School System. She received her Masters degree from Drury College in 1962 and was employed as a counselor at Reed Junior High School in Springfield. Dr. Bowers spent twenty-seven years as a teacher, counselor and / or administrator in the public schools of Webster and Greene counties. She was director of the Drury Evening College Program for numerous years and during her administration the program doubled in size and became an exemplary program throughout the country. She became a nationally known speaker and lecturer and received her doctorate degree in 1972. She then left Drury College to become Executive Director of an education cooperative, serving eleven school districts in Southwest Missouri. While there she wrote numerous proposals that were granted by the federal government. These grants enabled the cooperative to have abundant moneys to build exemplary programs, which were implemented by other states. The educational programs which she designed have been adopted in Germany, Australia, and other countries. She became a nationally known consultant on Public Law 94-142, The Educational Act for Handicapped Children. She later researched, designed and implemented off-campus programs for Southwest Baptist University including the Springfield Campus, Mountain View Junior College and numerous other programs. Dr. Bowers received her license to practice psychology when the state first issued licenses in 1978 and has maintained a part-time practice since that time. During her twenty years as a college administrator she served on numerous Greene County boards and served on numerous state councils as well. She left her career to care for her terminally ill husband Frank in 1990. Since that time she has continued her private practice in psychology, writings, working on the farms, spent time with her granddaughters and traveled. She is survived by her daughter, Dr. Frankie Bowers Forgey and her husband Dr. Larry Forgey, Ozark; two granddaughters, Renee Forgey, Columbia; and Rashel Forgey, Baton Rouge, LA; and many other relatives and friends. Funeral services will be held at 1:00 p.m., Saturday, September 29, 2012 in J.D. Lee and Sons Funeral Home, Rogersville. Burial will follow in Seymour Masonic Cemetery, Seymour. Visitation will be held, before the service, from 12:00 - 1:00 p.m., Saturday, September 29, 2012 in the funeral home. The family requests memorial donations be made to the Frank W. and Winifred Bowers Scholarship Fund, c/o J.D. Lee and Sons Funeral Home, 7405 E. Ferrell Lane, Rogersville, MO 65742. Online condolences and guest book signing may be made at www.jdleeandsons.com.