Albert “Gary” Bowen October 23, 1945 - June 20, 2024

Albert “Gary” Bowen, 78, of Evanston Wyoming, previously from Elk Ridge Utah and Payson Utah, passed away June 20, 2024.

Gary was born in Payson, Utah on October 23, 1945, the son of Albert William Bowen and Afton Roper Bowen. He worked hard on his family farm and graduated from Payson High School in May 1963.

He married Sandra Thompson, on March 25, 1966, in the Manti Temple. Soon after, he joined the Army Reserves, faithfully serving for over 4 years. He was a licensed Journeyman working with plumbing and heating to provide for his family and later was joined by his son and grandsons in the business.

He is a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. As he began to study the gospel more, he loved reading scriptures and books by the prophets of the church.  When his children would ask a gospel question, he often pulled out “Gospel Doctrine” or other books and it would become a long discussion. He spent countless hours serving within the church. He and Sandra were ward and stake dance directors, and he was even talented at calling square dancing. At 16, he was called as an assistant scout leader and felt he needed to practice what he was preaching.  He worked alongside the boys and earned his Eagle Scout Award and would go on to spend years in the scouting program, helping boys learn to scuba dive, repel, camp, and more.  He also served as the executive secretary and loved teaching the oldest teens in Sunday school.

Gary began running later in life and ran enough marathons to qualify and run the 100th anniversary for the Boston Marathon at 50 years old. He also served on the town council for Elk Ridge City and served as the Mayor pro tem.

Gary played the guitar and entertained his children for years singing and playing songs for them. He loved fishing, and even died doing what he loved on a fishing trip in Canada.  He liked things simple and once suggested after his death that he be just “put in a large PVC pipe with the ends capped and buried in the horse pasture.  His family is only honoring SOME of his wishes.

He loved his family and was very proud of everyone. He often asked about his grandchildren and liked to hear how they were doing. In his later years, he would often say to  Sandra, “We really have a good family”.

Gary is survived by his wife, Sandra Thompson Bowen, of Evanston WY; his children, Lynette (Scott) Tervort of Brigham City, UT; Christine (Neil) Brown of Genola, UT; Julie (Chad) Christensen of Elk Ridge, UT; Michelle (David) Charles, Spring Lake, UT; Kathie (Scott) Palmer, Saratoga Springs, UT; and Lane (Lindsey) Bowen, of Evanston WY. The oldest of 8 children, he is also survived by his siblings, Connie (Jerry) Harris, Sharon (Robert) Bascom, Rose Marie (Brent) Thompson, Irene (Grant) Childs, Steve Bowen, Michael (Rose) Bowen, and Pam Beus, as well as 22 grandchildren and 7 great- grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Albert William Bowen and Afton Roper Bowen, and his son, Albert Wade Bowen. He was also preceded in death by a sister-in law, Cheryl Bowen, as well as 1 grand child, Scott Palmer, and 2 great-grandchildren, Brenna Brown and Bryce Ewell.

A Celebration of Life will be held in Evanston Wyoming on Saturday, July 6, as an open house from 5:00-7:00 pm. It will be located at the church building at 721 W. Cheyenne Drive, Evanston Wyoming.

Funeral Services will be held Monday, July 8th at the Elk Ridge church building located at 450 Elk Ridge Drive, Elk Ridge, Utah.  Services will begin at 11:00 a.m. with a  viewing at the same location prior to the services from 9:30-10:30 a.m.