Carolyn J. Bowers, beloved wife, mother, and grandmother and celebrated member of the purebred dog community passed away after a short illness and a several year battle against dementia on May 13, 2014. Carolyn was born on July 19, 1930 in the small rural town of Finchley, Virginia to Clifton Jordon Jeffress and Ida Wells Jeffress. Growing up on a tobacco farm during the Great Depression and the rationing of World War II taught her lessons of thrift and resourcefulness that she would carry with her for the rest of her life.

Always a hard worker, she began her college life at Radford College, then graduated in 1953 with a four-year Bachelor of Science degree in Home Economics from what was then called Virginia Polytechnic Insitute (now Virginia Tech) as a member of the first class of "co-eds" admitted to VPI. She was the first member of her immediate family line to earn a Bachelor's Degree, and after graduating, she worked a wide variety of jobs throughout the southeast and in Washington DC, where she met her husband John at an officer's club. Married in Virginia at the Liberty Baptist Church in 1959, this marriage endured for 54 years and included many moves, two children, and a great number of pets, primarily show dogs and cage birds, which Carolyn hand-reared with great dedication. Though she never returned to a farming life, she was happiest living on a generous tract of land, surrounded by the animals she loved and which thrived under her care. She was a fixture in the world of show dogs for over 30 years as a breeder, handler, judge, trainer, and educator. Her hobby carried her across North America and to the British Isles and earned her hundreds of friends and admirers. Carolyn was a noted hostess with a flair for entertaining, and a talented quilter and seamstress who made many beautiful quilts for family and for charity events. Raised a Southern Baptist, she explored many aspects of faith and spirituality, and was most recently a frequent member of the congregation at Stetson Baptist Church.

She is survived by her husband John O. Bowers, Jr. of Deland; children Karen Bowers Lee of Lincoln University, Pennsylvania, and Kenneth Alan Bowers of Raleigh, NC; Grandson Eric Lee of Pennsylvania, and sister Mary Francis Smith of Richmond, VA, along with a niece and nephew, son-in-law Clifford Lee and Daughter in Law Dr. Lynnea Villanova, and many friends throughout the USA and Canada who mourn her loss.

Visitation will be held on Monday, May 19th, 2014 from Noon to 1PM at Lohman Funeral Home of Deland, 935 East New York Avenue, Deland, Florida 32724. This will be followed by the funeral service at 1pm, followed by interment at Deland Memorial Gardens. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to either Take the Lead, LLC or to the Fisher Center for Alzheimer's Research