Earl "Mud Turtle" Bowling

Earl "Mud Turtle" Bowling, 77, of Manchester, Ky, passed away Friday, December 12th, at Saint Joseph Hospital in Lexington, Ky.
Earl was born in Botto, Ky, on May 28th, 1948, a son of the late Odas and Mary Magdalene Henson Bowling.
He was a member of Burning Springs Church of God. When Earl could not attend church due to sickness he was visited many times by Pastor Roy Lane Woods of Garrard Holiness Church.
He is survived by his wife, Brenda Dixon Bowling of Manchester.
He is also survived by his two daughters: Susan Woods and husband Benny and Sharon Jackson and husband Glenn both of Manchester; as well as his grandchildren: Earl Glenn Jackson, Noah Woods, and Faith Woods; by his great-grandchildren: Jonah, Jacob, Hunter, Becca, and Lonzo; by his brothers and sisters: Odas Bowling, Jr. of Manchester, Roy Bowling and wife Sandy of Manchester, Beatrice Sandquist of Rockford, IL, Bernice Collins of Manchester, and Lorene Hubbard and husband James of Manchester; and by a sister-in-law, Wanda Bowling of London.
In addition to his parents, Earl is preceded in death by his grandson, Jonah Bryon Woods. As well as his brothers, DJ Bowling, Vernon Bowling, and Delbert Bowling.
Services for Earl "Mud Turtle" will be held at 2:00 PM on Wednesday, December 17th, at Britton Funeral Home, with Roy Lane Woods and Paul Mitchell officiating. Burial will follow in the Goose Rock Cemetery.
Visitation for Earl "Mud Turtle" will be held at 6:00 PM on Tuesday, December 16th, at Britton Funeral Home.
In Loving Memory of Earl
Earl was a man who loved deeply and lived faithfully. His greatest joy was his family and friends, and his greatest devotion was to the Lord he served with a sincere and steady heart. No matter where he was or what season he was in, Earl let his light shine - quietly, humbly, and consistently - pointing others to God by the way he lived.
He loved being outdoors and hunting when he was able, finding peace in God's creation. Those moments reflected who he was at his core - a man who appreciated the simple, honest gifts of life.
Though Earl was a little man in stature, he lived a very big life. In the eyes of his children and grandchildren, he was larger than life. He was their hero - their caretaker, their playmate, their protector, and their safe place. Whatever they needed, Earl rose to meet it with love and patience.
Earl was a devoted and loving husband for 58 years. Every day, he tried to make those around him feel loved, valued, and secure. His marriage was a testimony of commitment, perseverance, and enduring love - a reflection of the faith that guided his life.
Above all else, Earl loved the Lord. His faith was not just something he spoke about; it was something he lived. Through kindness, service, and quiet strength, he showed others what it means to walk with God.
Now Earl rests in the presence of the Savior he loved so dearly. Free from pain. Free from struggle. Whole and at peace. Though his absence leaves a deep ache, his legacy remains - carried forward in the lives he touched, the love he gave, and the faith he modeled so faithfully.
Earl's life mattered.
His love endures.
And his light will never be forgotten.