Grace Arline Bowen went to her Lord on April 3rd, 2015. She was born in 1927 to Kenneth Paul Stearns and Minnie Sunbeam (Barton) Stearns in Portland, OR. The youngest of three daughters, she grew up in a loving home surrounded by joy and laughter. She was especially close to her Grandfather, Judge Joseph O. Stearns. She would recall her days as a young girl going to his home in SE Portland to spend time with him, whether it entailed visiting him at home or going out with him for her favorite dish, potato salad.

One of her favorite pastimes as a teenager was to go roller skating at Oaks Park. She met her first husband, Kenneth Bowen, there while he was on leave from the Marine Corps. It seemed like love at first sight, and they were married shortly thereafter. While Kenny was serving overseas, Grace worked as a waitress and cashier. When he finished his tour and was discharged to come home, she quit her job to become a homemaker. Shortly afterwards, she started a new career as Mother. She had three children, Gary Bowen, Karen (Bowen) Schmidt and AlexSandra (Bowen) McNabb. All three are living in the greater Portland area. As the years went on, she became a Grandmother to nine grandchildren, Angie, Kenny, Jason, Marlee, Ryan, Christopher, Brandon, Kay and Tierra. Then to seven great-grandchildren, and finally one great, great–grandchild.

Grace enjoyed her grandchildren, and would have a yearly Christmas cookie bake with them as well as an Easter egg hunt in her backyard. She also enjoyed shopping and scrapbooking. She would have scrapbook weekends with her two daughters, making pages in her pajamas and eating pizza and cupcakes, having a great time. She was famous for her “Wall of Photos” in her living room. The entire hallway was covered in photos ranging from her Grandfather down to the youngest members of her family.

Grace was active in her church family as well, serving as a Deaconess in the Seventh-Day Baptist Church in Portland. She had been a member since the ‘80’s and was dearly loved by everyone there.

She and Kenny were married for 56 years. They had a re-marriage ceremony to celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary. Kenny passed on in 2002. She then remarried in 2005 to Mark Herod. They spent nine years together until his death in 2014.

Grace loved her home and remained there with her dog Holly until her passing.
In lieu of flowers, Grace requested that donations be made to the Shriners Childrens Hospital in Portland, OR.

Born: December 11, 1927
Place of Birth: Portland, Oregon
Death: April 3, 2015
Place of Death: Portland, Oregon



Services

Funeral Service

Monday April 13, 2015, 11:00 AM at Mt. Scott Funeral Home
Click for Map and Directions

Private Interment

Willamette National Cemetery
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Donations

Memorial donations may be made to:
Portland Shriners Hospital For Children