Obituary of Andrea Arlene Bowman
Andrea Arlene Thornton was born on August 4, 1948, in Trenton, Michigan. She was one of five children born to the union of John and Mildred (Pledger) Thornton. Andrea attended Battle Creek High School in Battle Creek, Michigan, graduating with the class of 1966. Andrea worked as a cash clerk at K-Mart in Soddy Daisy, Tennessee for over twenty-seven years. When she moved back to Monroe, Michigan she was employed by Standard Federal Bank and Walmart.
Andrea was blessed with two children: Melinda and Nathan. On February 1, 1995, at the Lucas County Courthouse in Toledo, Ohio she married the love of her life: Mr. Ronald Bowman. She would welcome his four children: April, Eugene, Paul, and Jeff into her heart as her own. Andrea and Ronald loved to bowl and were often seen knocking over the pins at the Nortel Lanes in Monroe. She also loved to play bingo wherever she could find a game, but preferred playing at the Knights of Columbus Hall in Monroe. Andrea loved to cook and after living in the South she was known for her fried chicken and chocolate gravy biscuits. Her husband’s favorite dish was her chicken fried rice. A tremendous baker, it was nothing for her to whip up a batch of homemade cookies or throwing one of her delicious coconut cream pie or pumpkin bars in the oven. Andrea was a wonderful wife, mother, grandmother, and great grandmother, cherishing the time she spent with family.
Andrea Arlene Bowman, age 75 passed away on Tuesday; December 19, 2023, at Henry Ford Wyandotte Hospital in Wyandotte, Michigan surrounded by her loving family. Her passing was preceded by her parents: John and Mildred Thornton; her sister: Linda Thornton; and several aunts and uncles.
To cherish Andrea’s memory she leaves her loving husband of twenty-eight years: Ronald Bowman of Temperance, Michigan; her daughter: Melinda (Chad) Shropshire of Soddy Daisy, Tennessee; her son: Nathern (Tallie) Davis of Ringgold, Georgia; a step daughter: April (James) Beilman of Columbia, South Carolina; three step sons; Eugene Bowman of Monroe, Paul (Shannon) Bowman of Erie, and Jeff (Jenny) Bowman of Erie; three brothers: John (Diane) Thornton of Holland, Michigan, Don Thornton of Monroe, Michigan, and Ron (Pam) Thornton of Florida; twenty-three grandchildren; and twenty-five great grandchildren.
Friends may gather on Friday; December 22, 2023, from 11:00am until 1:00pm at Merkle Funeral Service, South Monroe; 14567 South Dixie Highway, Monroe, Michigan 48161 (734) 241-7070. A Celebration of Andrea’s Life will be held at 1:00 pm also at Merkle’s with Pastor Clyde Ellis of Heritage Baptist Church in Monroe officiating. A procession will follow to LaSalle Township Cemetery in LaSalle for burial.
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