Julia Ann Bowerman was a caring wife, mother, grandmother and friend. She left this world peacefully in her sleep on February 13, 2022 at the age of 80. She was preceded in death by her mother Barbara, her father Charles and her brother, Wayne. She leaves behind her husband, Gary, daughters Kellee (Michael), Kristi and Stacey, two grandsons, Benjamin and Joshua and many beloved nieces, nephews, cousins, brothers- and sisters-in-law.

She was born to Charles and Barbara Gastfield in October of 1941 in Fremont, Michigan. After graduating from high school, "Julie" attended Ferris College and later became an executive secretary at Gerber Baby Foods. She met Gary Bowerman in the fall of 1963 and they married the following October.

Julie loved reading. It was a lifelong passion born when she taught herself to read the books her aunts had left in the family attic. This love was deepened when, at eight years old, books were her sole source of entertainment when she was confined to bed for months recovering from rheumatic fever. Her childhood family raised quarter horses. She won top prizes over many years for showmanship and barrel racing with her state champion quarter horses, before moving from Michigan in 1968 with her husband and firstborn child. Along with her love of books she also instilled a love of art in her children and grandchildren. She took every opportunity to visit museums around the country with her husband and family.

Julie and family moved many times over the years and with each new home, she became an integral member of the community volunteering with the PTA, library, church, book clubs, and local art and civic organizations. With each move she left a trail of beloved neighbors and friends, only to make more friends and have more impact in the next town.

In lieu of flowers, please give a donation in her memory to your local library and pick a book you loved in the past or have had on your list and read it for her.