Aileen Bowie

Bowie, Mickey, Ailene Patricia (McKee) was cremated and requested no memorial service."I hope family and friends will celebrate my life with a toast of fun." The following thumbnail sketch will share highlights in my life. "I always considered herself blessed and lucky." In 1946 Jesus came into my life and I have depended on him everyday since. 

My parents Louise (Reppenhagen) and Robert (Bob) McKee encouraged me to follow my heart the 21 years while living at home. "Why move, I had it made, my Daddy paid my car insurance, filled my gas tank, FREE food and a roof over my head!" Arriving in the world December 14, 1934 and my sister Mary Jeanne (McKee) Tipton April 24, 1936, we attended Arkansas City schools.A taste of success while being a Girl Scout felt really good to me. Each badge sewed on my badge sash was a challenge and I loved it! In 3 years, I was the highest ranked Girl Scout in Ark City! I never planned to attend Cowley County Juco but the opportunity meant I could still live at home while continuing as  "soda jerk" at Vega Gold Dairy; a 1945 summer job that stretched into after school and Saturday employment through high school and college. My parents encouraged me to get a 4 year degree; the 1"in our family to go beyond high school.A Bachelor of Science in Education was completed in 1957 at Emporia State Teachers College. A fall teaching position at Emporia High School was secured. 

Mr. Right, Joseph Howard Bowie spied his future wife during Emporia's new teacher orientation; a whirlwind courtship found them marrying 12-21-57. Our 50th Anniversary was celebrated with a chuck wagon lunch buffet, over 100 guests attended; with white out blizzard conditions raging outside! During 9 years in Emporia, Bruce Robert (1959) and James Howard (1962) Bowie were born. Howard's school administrative talents helped him secure leadership at Tonganoxie High School. Having been a stay at home Mom; my double teaching degree, Girl's Physical Education/Business, provided an avenue to teach typing at THS part time. "I was at home when the boys left for school and back home when they came roaring in after school." Bruce joined Cub Scouts and I volunteered to be a Den Mother; turned into a 5 year hitch by the time Jim finished! My love of "easy listening" music started while taking private violin lessons at age 11; playing in school orchestras through Junior College. Both boys enjoyed "rock and roll" and thought "Mom's elevator music" was for old people. Bruce played trombone in band and took piano lessons. Jim learned basic drum techniques and took himself to a higher level by saving his lawn mowing cash and purchasing a multi drum/cymbal set. He began composing his own music and drum solo's; receiving "1" ratings at state competitions. "I was there cheering both boys on!" Bruce graduated from LHS in 1977. "Probably my all time favoritejob was City Librarian in Lincoln; books don't talk back, they don't move around without help and patrons are friendly. They came to the Carnegie building, chatted, selected books,said a few parting words and left." When the librarian position opened, I applied and got the job. I knew very little about behind the scenes library tasks; it was OJT (on the job training) but I learned with much assistance from the district office in Great Bend? PEO, Chapter DT initiated me in 1976 and I accepted the office of Chaplin. The Friday Afternoon Study Club opened itsdoors also; a unique feature; meetings were always on Thursday? Three Bowie's moved to Derby in 1978. Howard's past school experiences blazed the trail for him to become an assistant principal in a large high school. A DSH business teacher was terminated at mid term, I completed the year. That was a wakeup call to consider renewing my teaching certificate! Jim graduated DSH in 1980 in the top 25% of his class; our family nest was empty! Twenty-three years after earning a BS, I stepped back on the Emporia campus. All but one class was crammed into 11 weeks. A professor in the Business, Marketing Department suggested the Kansas Department of Education wave the display class. I was certificated and I never regretted selecting Wichita East High School with all its traditions as my employment site. Senior marketing students always returned from competitions with state awards and trophies. Students working in the business community were dependable employees "or" they didn't last in my class! By investing 3 additional summers a Master's Degree in Business was earned! It opened the door for 3 exciting summers teaching on campus. Graduate students came to learn new skills and gather information to add to their vocational programs. I also taught evening vocational classes for Emporia State several semesters; all designed for Wichita teachers wanting vocational certification. Health problems began to pledge my body, time to put on the brakes; I resigned in 1990. Leisure time activities included flower gardening, volunteering for various church committees, Morning Circle and secretary for Trustees at Woodlawn United Methodist Church. I attended PEO meetings and later enjoyed wearing a Red Hat for much fun!Learning to play golf caused laughing and poking fun with friends; a smashed wrist ended that adventure! A new spark of interest was on the horizon? I never had a doll house while growing up. With my live-in carpenter, Howard found building a 9 room Victorian house fun and challenging! Our motto "he builds she fills them!" From that late start in life, miniature projects and articles have been published in various miniature magazines. Our pink house was the center display during a miniature show in Kansas City. A 2nd 9 room Queen Anne house used up every scrap of available floor space, so we switched to creating miniature scenes in room boxes for competitions. 

Now, after kicking around years on this planet, my lifetime achievement award arrived; a place of honor in God's mansion in the sky! "Birthday's tell how long we've been on the road; not how far we've traveled. "To family, friends and those quick shadows passing in and out of my life; you all touched me perhaps in ways you do not know? In God's perfect timing we will gather for a joyous reunion! Until then, Shalom.