Obituary of Amanda Ray Bowers

Mrs. Amanda Ray Witherspoon Bowers, better known as "Granny Ray" was born February 24, 1916 to Romulus and Ellen Burkett Witherspoon in the Friendship Community of Ashe County. Ray finished the eighth grade at Friendship School, but was unable to attend High School at Jefferson because her mother could not afford the tuition at that time.

She married Lee Bowers December 1, 1939, whom she helped in the Esso service station and grocery store business. She also worked at several stores in West Jefferson in retail after 1965. Ray and Lee worked together at seasonal work at Doughton Park on the Parkway until his illness.

Granny Ray loved to travel and was always ready to go somewhere. She loved to cook and her biscuits, gravy and fried chicken were always a big hit with her family. Everyone in the church and community loved Granny Ray and she loved everyone. Her family was so blessed to have her for 101 years. She experienced many, many, changes in her lifetime.

She was also preceded in death by her parents, husband, Lee Bowers, brother and sister-in-law, Millard and Gladys Witherspoon, sister and brother-in-law, Annie Lou and Emmett Wallace, brother-in-law, Joe Sturgill and two young sisters, Mary Virginia and Madge Witherspoon and her beloved son-in-law, Kyle Ball, plus her Bowers' in-laws.

Granny Ray is survived by three sons and wives, Bill and Carol Bowers, Matthews, NC, Phil and Dianne Bowers, Dobson, NC and Charlie and Nancy Bowers, Crumpler, NC; also one daughter Linda Bowers Ball, Jefferson, NC. Surviving is her sister Kathleen Sturgill, Crumpler, NC and one sister-in-law, Winnie Bowers, Jefferson, NC.

Granny Ray is survived by six grandchildren, Billy Bowers, Jr., Waxhaw, NC, Michael Bowers and wife, Jill, Fairview, NC, Anna Honeycutt and husband, Jeff, Charlotte, NC, Brian Bowers and wife, Sherah, Marvin, NC, Jodi Southern and husband, Monty, Dobson and David Bowers and wife, Ashley, Crumpler, NC. She is survived by nine great-grandchildren, Jacob Bowers, Adeline and Lanie Ray Bowers, Adian Honeycutt, Aubrey and Mallie Southern and Jack, Luke and Graham Bowers. Also surviving are two nieces and three nephews; a great number of great nieces and nephews, great-great nieces and nephews and great-great-great nieces and nephews.

Funeral services will be held on Friday, July 7, 2017 at 2:00pm at Friendship Baptist Church with Rev. Russell Hart, Rev. Herb Parunak and Dr. Rev. Dennis Love officiating. Burial will follow in the Ashelawn Memorial Gardens Cemetery.

The family will receive friends from 6:00-8:00pm on Thursday, July 6, 2017 at Friendship Baptist Church.

Memorials may be made to Friendship Baptist Church Building Fund, 891 Friendship Baptist Church Road, Jefferson, NC 28640.

The family would like to thank all the staffs of Ashe Services for Aging, Medi Home Health and Medi Home Hospice. Also our sincere gratitude goes out to mother's caregivers: Elizabeth McManus, Linda Tucker, Susie Greer and Kay Houck.