Mrs. Bernice Bowler

Bernice Bowler, better known to family and friends as "Mat", in her 69th year, made her transition to Eternity on June 8, 2005 from Muskogee.

Born on July 21, 1935, she was the oldest twin born to Bervin and Velma Hankins. These twins were 2 of 16 siblings from this union. She grew up in the New Hope Community near Oktaha and attended school there, graduating from Dubois School. She lived in Kansas City, Taft and Tulsa before returning to Muskogee. She provided for her family through her employment at Tulsa Linen and ultimately worked as a Nurse Aid before operating a daycare from her home.

She leaves in God's care; her children, Eugene Bowler, Jr., Okmulgee, OK, Alvin B. Bowler, Haskell, OK, William A. Bowler, Arlington, TX and Theresa D. Bowler-Shopeyin & husband, Shola, Oklahoma City, OK; 7 grandchildren; 2 great-grandchildren; her siblings, Mary Jane & Ray D. Rowe, Tulsa; Velma & Don Richardson, Palo Alto, CA, Brenda & James Evans, Los Banos, A, Donna Hankins, Tulsa, Dorothy Johnson, Sacramento, CA, Ollie Hankins, Muskogee, OK, James Hankins, Tulsa, OK, Jeremiah "Jerry" Hankins, Tulsa, OK, Joseph "Joe" Hankins, Tulsa, OK and Curtis Hankins, St. Louis, MO; along with other relatives and friends.

The final tribute will be on Wednesday, June 15, 2005 @ 11 AM in the Little Rose Baptist Church. Rev. E. Lambert, the gracious host Pastor and Rev. A. Wooden, Officiating. Burial will follow in Booker T. Washington Cemetery. You may visit Mrs. Bowler, as she slumbers at the Keith D. Biglow Funeral Directors, Inc., on Tuesday, from 1 PM to 7 PM. Casket Bearers will be James Hankins, Joseph Hankins, Jerry Hankins, Rudy Dinwiddie, Kerry Williams and Wesley Tollett.