1935-2024
Jack McDonnell Bowman was born Nov. 27, 1935, in Tulsa, Oklahoma. He died peacefully at home July 12, 2024, after a long battle with cancer.
Jack will be missed by all who knew him. A self-described glasshalf- full guy, he was funny, fearless and honest; a smart businessman; and a good family man and friend. He worked hard and played hard, on water and land. Boating, scuba diving and backpacking were his big hobbies. Over the years, he captained ski boats, fast cruisers and houseboats on Oklahoma lakes. He loved to dive in Lake Tenkiller and many Caribbean reefs, always urging divemasters to take him deeper faster. He also was fascinated by the Arkansas River locks and dams, sailing from Webbers Falls in Oklahoma to the Mississippi and on south to Vicksburg, Miss., or upriver to Memphis.
During his high school years, Jack worked summers for his father’s drilling company. At age 16, he started driving trucks that moved company rigs from one drilling site to the next in Oklahoma oil fields. At OU, he enjoyed his fraternity, Phi Kappa Psi, more than the classroom. He left college to join Chicago-based Pure Oil Co. as an oil field scout, soon promoted to landman.
Just a few months after his 1957 marriage to Beverly Manley of Tulsa, he was drafted by the U.S. Army and sent from Ft. Riley to Munich, Germany, as company clerk. Pure Oil continued to pay 25% of his salary, which allowed him to live off base with his wife, buy a car, and explore scenic Bavaria and surroundings. The first of their four children was born in Munich in 1959. Upon honorable discharge, Pure Oil moved Jack to Denver as landman but soon closed that office. His next job took him to Calgary, Canada, selling oil field pipe for Sooner Pipe and Supply.
Eager to start his own business, Jack moved to Guthrie in 1961 with his family and bought an auto parts store. In 1970, the sudden death of 9-year-old daughter Barbara devastated her parents. After their divorce, Jack bought an old farmhouse on 35 acres in Guthrie. His second marriage added two sons and a daughter to the family. A house full of fun-loving, active teenagers kept life interesting, and there were rumors of well-attended beer parties at the Bowman pond. Another son joined the family when Jack married Sigrid Abbott in 1990.
During his 52 years in the auto parts business, Jack established, bought and sold 10 stores, operating several simultaneously. He still found time to promote his city and industry. Jack was active in Guthrie’s Chamber of Commerce and served on the national board of the Automotive Service Industry Association (ASIA) and on a vo-tech advisory committee to Oklahoma City Public Schools. His business philosophy was simple and effective: “If they like you, they’ll buy from you.” His son Mark worked with him in the main store, Jackson Auto Parts/Machine on Britton Road. In the early 2000s, when independent parts stores were being bombarded by the mass advertising of volume retailers, Jack eased into retirement. Mark continued to operate the store’s machine shop while his dad found a new hobby: crisscrossing our beautiful country in a motorhome with wife and dog.
He leaves behind his wife, Sigrid; son Mark and wife, Ann; granddaughter, Published in the Guthrie News Leader - July 17, 2024
Adrienne; grandson, Trevor and partner, Hailey Bishop and their son, Jameson; son, David and wife, Becky; grandson, Dustin and wife, Amy and their children, Asher, Aspen and Ace; son, Jack Jr.; stepson, Bennett Abbott and granddaughter, Jollie; twin brother, Jerry Bowman (older by 12.5. minutes) of Tampa, Florida and wife, Pam; loyal dog, Luna; and his many friends, including boaters at Tenkiller, fellow dog walkers in Hafer Park and members of Mercy Fitness Center.
Funeral services for Jack will be held at 10:00 A.M., Thursday, July 18, 2024 at Smith Memorial Chapel. Interment will follow at Summit View Cemetery. Services are under the direction of Smith-Gallo Funeral Home, Guthrie.
Visitation will be held Wednesday, from 3:00 P.M. - 7:00 P.M. with the family receiving guests between 5:00 P.M. - 7:00 P.M. at Smith-Gallo Funeral Home.
Special thanks to Companion Healthcare Hospice for excellent care during Jack’s last weeks.
Jack loved dogs. In lieu of flowers, please consider supporting an animal shelter.
Friends may sign the online guestbook at www.smithgallo.com.