Doris Dean Bowen

Our precious mother, grandmother, sister, and aunt, Doris Dean Isbell Bowen went to her Heavenly home on November 29, 2024.

Doris was born in Roy, NM to Tony Oliver Isbell and Irma Louvelia Kincannon Isbell on June 17, 1934. Doris attended Portales High School where she met the love of her life, Pat Bowen. Doris and Pat were married just shy of 66 years when Pat passed away in 2019. 

Doris graduated from Eastern New Mexico University with a degree in education. She taught school in Williams, Arizona, Clovis, NM and Roswell. She spent the majority of her teaching years at Washington Ave. Elementary school in Roswell. Doris enjoyed teaching. She loved her students, fellow teachers and Principal. 

Outside of teaching, Doris stayed busy with many church activities, her kids’ activities, family functions and hosting gatherings. Doris was a member of First Baptist Church in Roswell for many years, where she still has many dear friends. After her retirement, Doris and Pat moved to their “barn dominium” in Nogal, NM. While living there, they stayed active again in church, First Baptist in Carrizozo, NM. They felt blessed to make more great friends around Nogal. Doris had a passion for missions and was always involved with various ministries and projects. 

Doris enjoyed hosting parties and groups in their barn. She hosted many different groups, but she was always excited to host her family. She LOVED her family. Doris was the oldest of her siblings and they were a tight-knit family. She made sure they got together regularly, and she loved traveling with them. Any time they got together, there were card games or dominoes involved (and food). She also had a very special bond with her sister-in-law, Tommie Bowen Owen. Doris was a wonderful mother, mother-in-law, and grandmother. She adored her kids and grandkids. She made each of them feel very special and loved. Doris was very kind, and she was genuinely interested in other’s lives and always enjoyed getting updates. She loved to laugh and was fun to be around. 

Doris’ hobbies included sewing, cooking, crafting, shopping, making homemade pie sand scrapbooking. In her later life, she made BIG scrapbooks for all the kids and grandkids, which will be treasured and handed down to future generations.

Above all else, Doris loved the Lord. Her desire was to share her faith with others, so they could experience a close relationship with God.

Doris was preceded in death by her husband, Pat Bowen; parents, Tony and Irma Isbell; brother Eugene Isbell and granddaughter, Gabrielle Hawkins. Doris is survived by her children, Randy Bowen and Maria of Roswell, NM, Ron Bowen and wife Christine of Bluffton, SC and Becky Hawkins and husband Jay of Buda, TX; her grandchildren, Connor Bowen and wife Alyssa, Mackenzie Bowen, Madison Murchison and husband Cahil and Makenna Peevey and husband Tristan (and Great Grand Baby Peevey arriving in 2025). Doris is also survived by her siblings, Wayne Isbell (Evelyn), Leona Tarry, Alton Isbell, Connie Motheral; nieces and nephews, Karen, Kent, Kraig, Bret, Kyle, Carl, Jonathon, Charlotte, Cody, Shane, Joy, Laura, Doug, all their spouses and many greats and great greats.

Doris’ family would like to thank the staff at both Peachtree and BeeHive for helping with her transitions over the past few years, Interim Hospice that helped in her final few months, the staff at Visiting Angels for all their support and care during the past seven years and her very special friends who visited her, loved on her and checked on her and Kristy Castillo. We know there were others, and you are all very loved and appreciated. It really meant a lot to us!

In lieu of flowers, Doris would have been delighted if you made a donation to missions at your church or to a charity of your choice.

A viewing will be held from 5:00 to 7:00 pm, Thursday, December 5, 2024 at Ballard Funeral Home. Funeral services will be held at 10:00 am, Friday, December 6, 2024 at First Baptist Church with burial to follow at General Douglas L. McBride Veterans Cemetery.