Hutnsville, AL: Vivian Lee Bowman (Gault), formerly of Pattonsburg, MO, died in Huntsville, AL on December 16, 2021.
She was born July 4, 1931, in Santa Rosa, MO, to Louis and Verla (Minor) Gault. Vivian was 90, but stated she never felt old until she looked in the mirror. She had an amazingly positive attitude and lived by one of her many mottos, including āa positive attitude is the most important thing you can haveā.
Vivian was married in 1952 to Jack Bowman, who she described as falling for āhook, line and sinkerā after a blind date, orchestrated by her brother. Jack and Vivian spent the majority of their married life on a farm near Pattonsburg, Missouri, and after Jackās death in 2002, she moved to Excelsior Springs, Missouri. She would also reside in Kansas City and Kearney, Missouri, before living in Huntsville for the last six months of her life.
Vivian was a schoolteacher for over 40 years and had an unstoppable love and desire for helping and educating children. Her lifelong quest was to bring out the best in those she knew, whether as a teacher, parent, grandparent or friend. She manifested that quest throughout her own life, accepting lifeās challenges and adversity with a grit, fortitude, and work ethic that even the strongest of humans would find impressive. She was unique, in that while most individuals driven to find success would be inwardly focused, she was not. She loved those around her selflessly; a characteristic that was most likely deeply rooted in her faith and love of God.
Vivian was very proud of her accomplishments, which included forging her own path to higher education while working full-time, in addition to being a wife and mother. She graduated with honors from Baker University with a Bachelors in Elementary Education, and also with honors from Northwest Missouri State University with Masters in Reading and a Masters in Learning Disabilities and Educable Mentally Handicapped. Her teaching career spanned from age 20 to age 86, starting in a one-room rural school house to volunteering in Kindergarten in Excelsior Springs. Her passion for reading and lifelong learning impacted many during her career, and she once stated that āin my estimation, being of service to others is a very important part of everyoneās lifeā. She was a member of the Pattonsburg Christian Church, P.E.O, Missouri Teachersā Association, and Delta Kappa Gamma.
Jack and Vivian had four children, all surviving: Kim Christine (Bill), Excelsior Springs, MO; Dana Hoover (Monte), Pattonsburg, MO; Brent Bowman (JoBeth), Pattonsburg, MO; and Kristin Stitt (James McGraw), Huntsville, AL. Survivors also include grandchildren, Jaclyn Anderson (Jeremy); Kent Harrison; Ashley Pratt (Jamie); Rachel Tozier (Tom): Elisa Fraykes (Brandon); Kurt Bowman; Sandy McGraw (Diane); Rosemary McGraw (Sean Himmelberg); Monica McGraw (Claire Estep); and Ellis True McGraw; as well as many adored great grandchildren, family, and friends. She was preceded in death by her husband, Jack, as well as her parents, Louis and Verla Gault, and brothers John, Larry, and Tim Gault.
Funeral Services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Monday, December 20 at Roberson Funeral Home, Pattonsburg, MO. Burial will follow in Pattonsburg Memorial Gardens, Pattonsburg, MO. The family will receive friends from 3:00-5:00 p.m. Sunday at the funeral home where masks are preferred. Memorials may be made to the Pattonsburg Christian Church and/or Pattonsburg Senior Center in care of Roberson Funeral Home, P.O. Box 152, Pattonsburg, MO 64670. Online condolences may be left at www.robersonfuneralhome.com