Zelda Jennalea Bowles

Zelda Jennalea (Harvill) Bowles was the daughter of the late Oren and Lillian Harvill. She was born on April 5, 1933 in a house near Billings, MO and departed this life on November 21, 2020 at her home in Pilot Grove, MO surrounded by family and friends. At the time of her passing, she was 87 years of age.

‘Jennie’, as she was best known by friends and family, was raised and attended school in southwest Missouri. Jennie was united in marriage to Donald Bowles on July 5, 1952. Don was heard referring to her as ‘the most beautiful girl he had ever seen’ upon meeting her for the first time in Bible class in Springfield, MO. Her home was wherever Don’s job and career took him which included New Orleans, Texas, Georgia, New York, Pennsylvania, Kansas and Missouri. During one move, ‘Jen-lee’ (as Don always called her) drove the four children while pulling a trailer from New York to Kansas by herself. Over the years, Jennie enjoyed the many family gatherings with her parents, siblings and their families. These gatherings were always filled with love, laughter, good food and family gospel singing. After Don’s retirement, they spent many years selling crafts from one end of the country to the other. During this time, they also made many trips to Canada fishing for Walleye and Northern Pike. Several of these trips were made with their close friends Lynn and Liz Swallows. At her passing, Don and Jennie had been married for 68 years.

Jennie was preceded in death by her father Oren Harvill, her mother Lillian (Brashears) Harvill, her brother Avery Harvill & wife Pearl, a son-in-law Jay Ediger and one great grandson Jeremiah Alumbaugh. Jennie is survived by her husband, Don; two sons, Randy & wife Becky and Daryl & wife Kelly; two daughters, Jolene Ediger and Julie & husband Donnie LeRoy; one brother, David Harvill & wife Deanna and one sister Ella & husband Jack Penn; 8 grandchildren, Jeremy Ediger & Brandi Golden, Josh Ediger & wife Jesse, Kylie Kieso & husband Kenny, Dereck LeRoy and wife Laura, Dylan Bowles and wife Katie, Laura Bowles, Jamie Alumbaugh and husband Tyson and Kaitlyn Bowles; and, 12 great grandchildren; a host of nieces, nephews, extended family, friends and many Brothers and Sisters in Christ.

A graveside service will be at 1:00 p.m. Friday, November 27, 2020, at Kerr Cemetery near Republic.

Casket bearers will be Jeremy Ediger, Joshua Ediger, Kenny Kieso, Mike Harvill, Dylan Bowles and Dereck LeRoy.

Honorary bearers will be David Penn and Ethan Kieso.

Memorials are suggested to Hometown Home Care or Blackwater Church of Christ.

The family will gather briefly at 5:00 p.m. Thursday at the funeral home in Pilot Grove.

Arrangements are in the care of Meisenheimer Funeral Home in Pilot Grove.

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