Betty Bowen is survived by her sister, Rachelle Brown; children, Thomas Kitrick (Marty) Bowen, Marc (CeCe) and Gail (Bill) McCormick. Her grandchildren, Alex, Sarah, Mary Alice and Cal McCormick, Teigh, Connor and Richard Bowen and Kelsey O’Banion. Great grandchildren, Ginger, Benny, George and Lilah.

Predeceased by her brother Edward T. Parry and her mother Marie Hammel and father Edward L. Parry.

Betty was born in Salt Lake City. When She was 3 her family moved to Portland where her father was an officer with the First National Savings and Loan Bank. The Parry family had a home in Laurelhurst. Betty had fond memories of growing up with the Grant High School campus as her backyard. Her parents welcomed all to their home with many friends. She loved riding her bike, playing tennis, and going to Yaws for hamburgers. Her father served prominently on numerous civic and professional associations in Portland including the Royal Rosarians. Betty attended Fernwood Grammar School and was a Junior Rose Princess in 1939. She was proud of her activities and participation in clubs at Grant. She believed in joining and participating in drama and sports and made sure others joined in too. She served as Student Body Vice President before her graduation in 1942.

When Betty’s generation went to war, so did Betty. She worked at the intake center of the Fort Lewis Motor Pool with a team of contractors reconditioning war equipment arriving from North Africa to be sent to Asia. At 19 she was the youngest and the first woman licensed to drive ‘ALL’ army vehicles including tanks, trucks and motorcycles. Later, Betty attended Oregon State University and was a member of the Kappa Alpha Theta Sorority. Following the end of the war she married her high school sweetheart, Army Air Corp Lieutenant Alexander Thomas Bowen, who served as a B-29 bombardier in the Air Corp in the South Pacific.

They raised their children in Garden Home and later in Raleigh Hills. They were early members and officers of the Portland Holiday Club.

Betty worked with Grantree Company from 1968-1974 where she received top sales awards for several years.

From 1978-1998 Betty was the Metro YMCA receptionist. She enjoyed her position and was popular with members and staff. She retired in 1998.

Betty was passionately competitive and an avid golfer. She belonged to Rose City, Eastmoreland, and later Progress Downs Golf Courses and played in golf tournaments for over forty years.

She avidly followed sports and was known to wager and win on NFL and college football games. Betty had a lifelong interest in the film industry and she accurately predicted and won her picks for the Academy Awards year after year. She loved the music of Judy Garland, Barbara Streisand and Bette Midler.

She instilled the love of all animals in her children and grandchildren. The family and the neighborhood kids enjoyed generations of wonderful dogs and cats.

Many people will remember Betty for her story telling and sense of humor. She had a sharp business mind and was a good stock picker. She had an honest no-nonsense approach to life and was generous and kind to her friends and family. She had a twinkle in her smile and was especially proud of her grandchildren and great- grandchildren.

Since 2011 Betty has lived at Markham House Assisted Care where she enjoyed close friendships with the staff and residents. She died peacefully at her home on New Years Eve. A private family celebration of remembrance will be held at a later date.