Betty Garldine Bowers

Betty Bowers, 71, of Stillwater passed away on Friday, December 26, 2014 at her home with her family by her side. Arrangements have been entrusted to the care of Palmer Marler Funeral Home of Stillwater.
Betty Garldine (Reger) Bowers was born June 25, 1943, in Shattuck, OK. She was the daughter of Samuel Earls Reger and Audrey Marie (Harrell) Reger of Follett, TX. Preceded in death by her parents and nephew, Michael Hicks, Betty is survived by her beloved husband of 50 years, Donovan Bowers; her two children, Troy Bowers of Jones, Oklahoma and Traci (Bowers) Thorpe of Ponca City, Oklahoma; several grandchildren, Lane and Kyleigh Bowers of Jones, Oklahoma, Brier (Thorpe) Snow of Ponca City, Oklahoma, Caitlin (Thorpe) Clark, of Alva, Oklahoma, Brennyn Thorpe of Ponca City, Oklahoma; great-grandchildren, Mason and Anni Snow of Ponca City, Oklahoma; sister, Wyvonna Hicks of Follett, TX; niece, Bonnie (Hicks) Kraft of Watonga, Oklahoma; and great-nieces and nephew, Lisa (Kraft) Bartlett of Norman, Oklahoma, Erika Kraft of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, and Richard Kraft of Kingfisher, Oklahoma.
Betty graduated as valedictorian from Follett High School in 1961. She then attended West Texas State University, pursuing a degree in Elementary Education. Betty and her friends enjoyed attending rodeo dances, and she met Donovan at a dance in Arnett, Oklahoma. She married Donovan Bowers in 1964 and continued to finish her degree at WTSU. Betty received her Bachelors degree in 1965 and began her teaching career in Erik, Oklahoma while her husband, Donovan was coaching and teaching and their son, Troy, was born.
Betty and Donovan left Erik, Oklahoma to teach in Ulysses, Kansas, where they lived and worked for six years, and their daughter, Traci, joined the family. In 1974, Betty and Donovan moved to her hometown, Follett, Texas, where Betty taught first grade and Donovan was self-employed. Three years later, Betty and Donovan were hired to teach at Fairview Public Schools in Fairview, Oklahoma, where she taught first, second and fourth grades. Betty earned a Masters degree in library media in the early 1980s and also served as librarian in the Cornelsen Elementary Library. In 1989, Betty left Fairview to teach at Coyle, Oklahoma, where she retired from her career after 41 years.
Betty was an avid reader and was outstanding at sharing the joy of reading with countless children and grandchildren. She was active and spent many Christmas and Spring breaks snow skiing with her family. Betty doted on her grandchildren and great-grandchildren and enjoyed traveling to their various activities and sporting events.
A funeral service is scheduled for 2 p.m. on Saturday, January 10th, 2015 at Palmer Marler Carberry Funeral Home Chapel, Stillwater, OK.
In lieu of flowers, please make donations to the Oklahoma Cancer Society or Judith Karman Hospice in care of Palmer Marler Funeral Home, 5106 North Washington, Stillwater, Oklahoma 74075.