Eugene J.R. Bowen

Eugene J.R. Bowen, 87, of Muskogee, Oklahoma passed away on Friday, May 17, 2024. He was born on April 7, 1937, to Clester Aaron Bowen and Amanda Florence (Gillespe) Bowen at home in Keefeton, Oklahoma. He grew up attending Sunny Slope School and graduated from Warner High School. Gene worked two jobs to support his family while attending OSU Okmulgee Tech where he received his Electrical Degree. He retired from OG&E as an electrician after many years of service. Gene married the love of his life, Billye Jean Ritch, on July 2, 1955, in Muskogee, Oklahoma. They shared over 68 years of life, marriage, and family together. He loved his family very much and will be missed by everyone who knew and loved him. He always said his middle name, J. R., stood for Jack Rabbit. We think that’s why he was always working on a project. Gene was part of the group that built and started the Senior Center in Okay. Once, he built the equipment and taught himself how to screen print. Gene was an avid gardener passing down his green thumb to his daughter. He loved coaching his children’s ball teams. Before retirement, he built a small store by his home on the road to Sequoyah Bay, where he and Billye Jean spent many evenings and weekends during summer. He later figured out a way to have a removeable concession in Sequoyah Bay as it flooded periodically. He would simply pull the concession trailer up to his home. This was way before food trucks even came along. In many ways, he was a pioneer, finding ways to fix things differently than anyone else. If someone needed his help, he was there helping them whether it was family, friends, or someone on the roadside. Gene had an alter ego named Sunny Slope. Sunny Slope made many guest appearances at the Wagoner Civic Center, some area schools, and anywhere he was asked to attend to do his standup comedy routine. There’s just not enough ink to cover everything he had done during his lifetime and not enough fingers to count the many lives he touched. Gene is survived by his loving wife, Billye Jean Bowen; children, Brenda Sue Wright (Bowen) and husband Ronald, and Ronald Eugene Bowen and wife Janet Lea Bowen (Simpson); grandchildren, Cara Jeane Brzezicki (Wright) and husband Corey, Jason Earl Wright and wife Kathryn, Erin Lynn Ledbetter (Bowen) and husband Casey, and Jordan Eli Bowen and wife Jamie; great-grandchildren, Camden Brzezicki, Jayden Wright, Hunter Ledbetter, Carson Brzezicki, and Kinley Wright; and many nieces, nephews and cousins. He was preceded in death by his parents, Clester and Amanda Bowen, his brother Leroy Bowen, sister Oma Harrison (Bowen). The family will receive friends from 5:30-7PM, Tuesday, May 21, 2024 at Cornerstone Funeral Home. A celebration of Gene’s life will be 10AM, Wednesday, May 22, 2024, at First Baptist Church of Okay, 7530 N 37th St E, Okay, Oklahoma with Rev. Donnie Echols officiating. Interment will follow at Greenhill Cemetery in Muskogee with Paul Bowman, Jordan Bowen, Rocky Bowen, Ronnie Bowen, Jason Wright, and Ronnie Wright serving as pallbearers.

Eugene J.R. Bowen

April 7, 1937 - May 17, 2024