James Marion Bowman

December 18, 1927 –April 25, 2025

We are heartbroken to announce the passing of James Marion Bowman, who left us at the age of 97. A Marine, a builder, an athlete, a father, and a teacher of life’s tougher lessons, he leaves behind a legacy rooted in hard work, honesty, and a love for the land. James was a man of many talents. From the basketball courts of his youth, sometimes playing alongside his younger brother, Harold, on the same Berea High School team, to the football fields of Lamar, CO, his athleticism was a lifelong passion. He carried that same energy into adulthood, playing in men’s softball leagues, golfing at Berea Country Club, and enjoying the spirited fun of a game of quarters. He loved Berea and served on the Planning and Zoning committee for several years to help make decisions for the betterment of his city. He was also inducted as a Kentucky Colonel in 1997. During the 1940s, like many young men of his generation, James felt called to serve. He entered basic training at just 17 years old and proudly became a United States Marine. If you sat with him for any length of time, he would share stories from that chapter of the grueling training, the camaraderie, and the voyage across the ocean to China. After 20 years at Parker Seals, Jim decided to strike out on his own. With a 100-foot tape in hand and a vision in mind, he designed and engineered Pinnacle View Trailer Park on his grandfather’s land. Farming was his second language—rolling hay, raising cattle, growing tobacco, and taking meticulous care of his lawn. He believed in the dignity of work, and he passed that belief down: “If you’re going to do something, do it right,” he would say. And he lived that way, every day. He shared this sentiment with family - “My life was perfected by something greater than me and I’ve been blessed.” Jim had a stubborn streak and a deep pride in doing what he believed was right, even when the truth was hard to hear. “You aren’t going to beat Mother Earth,” he often said. “You’ll be there one day.” He lived grounded in that wisdom. James also carried a playful spirit. As a child, when his cousin refused to share a tricycle, Jim drank a bellyful of water and solved the problem in his own unforgettable way—peeing through a crack in the fence to get his point across. Mischievous then, and memorably honest always. Ninety-seven years with James Marion Bowman (Papa and Papa-berea) was a gift. How lucky we all were to have him in our lives.

James was born in Berea on December 18, 1927, to the late Thomas O. and Nancy Ambrose Bowman. Other than his parents, he was preceded by his first wife, Betty Sergeant Bowman, one daughter, Jennifer Bowman, and his brother, Harold Bowman.

James is survived by his wife, Nancy Carrroll Bowman of Berea, his son James Marion Bowman, Jr., three daughters - Nanci Duncan and her husband Bob of Jeffersontown, Connie Harrison of Georgetown, and Mikki Moren and her husband Matt of Richmond. Stepson Jimmy Lunsford and his wife Sherry. Eight grandchildren, James Marion Bowman, III, and his wife Catherine. Sharon Bryant and her husband Derek, Beth Knockwafel, Becky Duncan, B.J. Duncan, Jr., and his wife Sara, Nick Duncan and his wife Katie, Emily Moren, and Patrick Moren. Six great grandchildren, three great great grandchildren, along with several nieces, nephews.

Visitation will be 6-8 p.m. Monday, April 28th, 2025, at Davis & Powell Funeral Home. Funeral services will be 11 a.m. Tuesday, April 29th, 2025, also at the funeral home, Reverends Mark and Lisa Caldwell-Reiss officiating. Burial with full military honors will follow at Madison County Memorial Gardens. Pallbearers will be James M. Bowman, III. Patrick Moren, B.J. Duncan, Jr., Nick Duncan, Max Knockwafel, and Barrett Knockwafel. Honorary bearers will be Lucas Bowman and Wesley Lunsford.

Memorial contributions suggested to the Compassionate Care Center, 350 Isaacs Ln. Richmond, KY 40475 www.hospicecareplus.org or St. Jude Children’s Hospital. www.stjude.org