Arlene Elizabeth Bowes

SAEGERTOWN — Arlene Elizabeth (Porter) Bowes died peacefully in her sleep Friday, May 23, 2014, at the age of 92, at Crawford County Care Center in Saegertown, where she had been since October 2013 following a short period of declining health. She was comfortable and in her usual good spirits, and had been visiting with a favorite family member just an hour earlier. Arlene was born on July 15, 1921, in Dutch Hill, Meadville, the eldest child of Harry and Anna Porter. She graduated from Meadville High School in 1938, and worked at American Viscose and T.W. Woolworths, and opened a store and gas station at Shaws Landing which she operated for several years during the war. She married Francis Lavere Bowes on March 24, 1945, and they moved to his family farm in Little Cooley-Townville shortly thereafter, where they lived their entire lives and where they had a son, Jon Bowes, who with his wife, Katy, still lives on the family property. Arlene was a deeply generous, indelibly joyful woman with a bright smile and an easy, kind laugh that would fill a room and keep you warm for weeks. She had an unbreakable sense of optimism and appreciation for what she had, and her ability to find sincere beauty and gratitude in the smallest of things every day of her life was a rare and beautiful gift that will be fiercely missed. Arlene had an enormous heart, a mischievous wit, and was an innate and captivating storyteller. She was a mother and a sister to so many who knew her and had a sense of empathy, gratitude, joy, and an understanding of the things that really matter which she has forever passed on to those who loved her. She had a strong sense of community and for her entire life drew people together, fed them and made them happy. She lived each of her 92 years to an admirable fullest, and to the very last day with a strong, uncommon grace that all those around her admired. Arlene kept a beautifully lush and productive garden well into her 80s, loved flowers and birds, and spent as much time in the fresh air and sunshine as possible. She loved music, and was a great cook who was always eager to stop what she was doing to feed too much food to more people than we can count, more times than we can count. She loved having a home full of friends and family, and her family will never forget the smell of her freshly baked bread, cinnamon buns, sugar cookies and pies. Arlene was an active and much-loved member of the Little Cooley United Methodist Church community, volunteering in their kitchen for as long as she was able. She was the matriarch of her family and a pillar of her community and the world was truly a better place for having had her. Arlene lived a long, full, happy life surrounded by people who loved her and she will be both deeply missed and live on forever in the hearts of her many friends and family. She is preceded in death by her husband, Francis Bowes; her parents, Harry and Anna Porter; a brother, Rodney Porter and his wife, Erla; a sister-in-law, Helen Porter; several brothers- and sisters-in-law; nieces and nephews; and dear friends. Arlene is survived by her son and daughter-in-law, Jon and Katy Bowes; her grandchildren, Katrina Bowes and David Fletcher, and James and Jessica Bowes; a great-granddaughter, Adalyn, her pride and joy; two brothers, Cliff Porter and his wife, Shirley, and Donald Porter and his wife, Dot; as well as sisters- and brothers-in-law, Virginia Bowes, Norman and Sandy Bowes, Lillian Bowes and Angelo Bizzarro; many nieces and nephews; her dearest friend, Gail Lobdell; and innumerable other loving family and friends. Arlene knew exactly how lucky she was to have each of you. She will be deeply missed by all. A visitation and funeral service is planned for Tuesday from noon to 2 p.m. at Willis Arnold Funeral Home in Townville. All friends and family are welcome. Please take a moment to share a memory or condolence with the family on Arlene’s Book of Memories online at roofnercollinswarrenfh.com.