Olive Bowen-DeCesare

1919 - 2021

Olive Bowen-DeCesare

Bremerton, WA - March 24,1919-April 2, 2021

Olive passed to her heavenly home 9 days after celebrating her 102 birthday with family.

She was born in a sod house near Moreland KS, to deaf parents. A couple months after her birth she contracted the Spanish Flu. She survived and became the strong, independent woman we all knew. She was the youngest of 5 children. She learned sign language and from the age of 5 interpreted for her parents in business dealings and life. She did housework, cooked and cleaned for 50 cents a week in order to finish school and graduated in June 1937

Olive married Kenneth Bowen in 1938. They had 2 daughters Judy (Valdois) and Jean (Halvorson). Kenneth was called into the ministry and ordained in 1943. They worked together in the ministry in several churches in Kansas, moved to CA in 1956 and spent 24 years at Bible Baptist Church in Vallejo. Olive was instrumental in starting a deaf ministry in support of her husband till Kenneth's death in 1980. Olive married Charles Harris in 1983. They both enjoyed being retired, loved fishing and travel. They joined a group of their church friends, "Over The Hill Gang", that traveled with their RV's to many places. Charles passed away in 1998. A nurse at Vallejo Kaiser introduced Olive to Bob DeCesare. Olive married Bob in 2000. 2005 they moved to Bremerton WA to be closer to family. They cruised to Alaska and enjoyed many adventures in the Pacific North West. Bob passed away 2007.

Olive loved being surrounded by her family and friends. She had 2 daughters, was grandma and bonus grandma to 9 grandchildren, 15 great-grandchildren, and 3 great-great-grandsons.

Olive had a deep faith and love for God. Her favorite scripture was Proverbs 3:5-6. Her deep faith and enduring love will remain in our hearts forever.

Due to COVID a memorial will be held at a later date.