Gary James Bowerman

Gary James Bowerman, born on June 2, 1941, in Grand Rapids, Michigan, passed away peacefully and surrounded by his family on November 6, 2025, at Encore Assisted Living of Avalon Park in Orlando, Florida. He leaves behind a legacy of resilience, dedication, and a quiet humor that touched the lives of many.

Gary's professional journey began in the railroad industry, where he started his career as a trackman with the Chessie System. Through hard work and determination, he amassed experience that propelled him to GRS, where he played a crucial role in the development of the Metro System in Washington, DC. He made a notable return to Chessie System, now part of CSX, where he excelled as the chief signal and tracking engineer, contributing significantly to the industry until his retirement. Even after that retirement, Gary continued to work in railway safety by joining Harmon Industries, later acquired by GE Tracks, where he led the construction of railway signal boxes before retiring once more.

Gary's character shone through in his personality. He was known for being straightforward and quietly humorous, alongside a resilient spirit that enabled him to overcome significant personal challenges. Notably, he overcame a debilitating stutter, which he conquered through public speaking. He also battled aggressive metastasized parotid cancer and surpassed his prognosis many years while pursuing interests during his bonus time.

An accomplished individual, Gary graduated from Lee High School in Wyoming, Michigan, and was a lifelong learner with a passion for various pursuits. He loved to cook and specialized in family recipes of potato pancakes and French onion soup. He was an avid reader, particularly enjoying spy and mystery novels, as well as a vast library of nonfiction topics. He was an amateur astronomer, a horologist, a detectorist, and a numismatist. He earned a black belt in Judo. He found joy in expressing his creativity through sketching and painting in oils and watercolors. His curiosity led him to learn to play the harmonica, recorder, and keyboard in his 70s and 80s. He also demonstrated remarkable technical abilities by building computers and ham radios and mastering six programming languages. He also recently learned to read tarot cards.

Gary is survived by his three daughters: Kellee Seif and her husband Michael, Kristi Bowerman, and Stacey Bowerman, who carry on his spirit and values. He is also survived by two grandsons, who were his pride and joy, Benjamin Seif and Joshua Seif. He held dear his sisters, Virginia Falkoff and Vanessa Jenkins and her husband Bob, as well as his sister-in-law Kathy Bowerman. He has many cherished nieces and nephews.

Gary was preceded in death by his parents, Jay Clyde "JC" and Florence Virginia (Dilley) Bowerman; his devoted wife, Julia Ann (Gastfield) Bowerman; his two brothers, Rodger Bowerman and Jerome "Jerry" Bowerman; and his very special Aunt Maybelle Greenwalt.

As we remember Gary, we celebrate his contributions to both his profession and his family, along with the warmth he brought to the lives of those fortunate enough to know him. We ask that you honor his memory by pursuing your curiosity, learning something new, or discovering a new personal passion.

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