Barbara Bowles

Barbara (Hamaker) Bowles, age 85, passed away at Beauregard Memorial Hospital on Sunday, June 25, 2023. She was born in Alco, LA on February 7, 1938, to Clark and Dovie (McRae) Hamaker. In 1956, she graduated from Anacoco High School. She worked at Merchant and Farmers Bank in Leesville at the beginning of her marriage to William Alexander. They lived in Jena, LA, then Fargo, GA and finally settling in Fort Myers, FL, where she worked at Caterpillar for numerous years. She later transferred to Lake Charles, LA with the same company. In Bundick Lake, she and her second husband, Robert (Bob) Bowles started a plant nursery called Plants Galore. She later joined Beauregard Memorial Hospital where she worked in several different departments making many friends along the way.

Barbara was a very faithful woman who lived her life in the service of others, especially her children Vaughn and Debbie whom she assisted throughout their lives and provided much needed care in their time of greatest need. She loved playing dominoes, watching crime shows on TV, collecting angels and plants. Barbara never passed up a good hamburger or her favorite strawberry hard candy. She was a devoted member of her church and community and will be remembered fondly by her friends and loved ones. She will be missed by many especially her cat, Booger.

Visitation will be Wednesday, June 28, 2023, from 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM at Dry Creek Baptist Church. A funeral service is scheduled for 11:00 AM on Thursday, June 29, 2023, also at Dry Creek Baptist Church where Brother Charley Bailey will be presiding. Eulogy will be read by Frank Tyler. Burial will follow at Self Cemetery in Leesville, LA.

She is survived by her sister, Judy McCullough and her husband, Randell of Moss Bluff, LA; nieces and nephews, her cousin, Steve Woods and his wife, Bunny of Leesville, LA; many friends and caretakers, whom she loved dearly.

She was preceded in death by her daughter, Debbie Alexander; son, Vaughn Alexander; parents, Clark and Dovie (McRae) Hamaker; two brothers, Dale and Jackie Hamaker.

Pallbearers will be Chad McCullough, Kal Laviolette, Kris McKoin, Rodney Hamaker, William McRae and Steve Woods.

The family would like to thank Dr. Granger for his care and compassion over the years and thanks to her church family and friends in the community who helped her in so many ways.

Memorial donations may be made in her name to Dry Creek Baptist Church, mailing address PO Box 700, Dry Creek, LA, 70634 or Self Cemetery, mailing address 4392 East Hawthorne, Leesville, LA, 71446.