Mildred Beavers Bowden Jones

Gladewater -- Services for Mildred Beavers Bowden Jones, 85, of Gladewater, will be held on Saturday, October 27, 2012, at 2 P.M. at the First Baptist Church with Reverend Bailey Harris and Larry W. Osborne officiating. Burial will be in Gladewater Memorial Park. Born on March 16, 1927, in Big Sandy, Texas, to Jim and Rebecca Beavers, she entered into eternal rest on Wednesday, October 24, 2012. A graduate of Gladewater High School, she received her Bachelor of Arts degree from Baylor University and her Master of Arts degree from East Texas State College and Commerce. She began her teaching career near Waco and then taught for the New Diana Independent School District, having originated the first New Diana High School Band. Her teaching career continued many years for the Gladewater Independent School District until her retirement in. She ended her most successful career in education by substituting for the Gladewater ISD. She was a loyal and strong Christian and a longtime member of the Gladewater First Baptist Church. She, in addition, was involved in every facet of her beloved Gladewater. She is survived by her son and daughter-in-law, Hugh and Kathy Bowden of Gladewater; daughter-in-law, Teresa Bowden of Gilmer; sister-in-law, Gwyn Beavers of Sanger; 5 grandchildren, Clint Bowden and Kayla Bowden, both of Plano; Annabelle Bowden, Denver Bowden, and Bentley Bowden, all of Dallas; 1 great-grandchild, Christian Bowden of Dallas; and 3 step-children, Beth Boles Shepherd, Buzz Boles, and Candice Boyer. She was preceded in death by her parents; her husbands, Cliff Bowden, James Boles, and Dewey Jones; son, Jimmy Bowden; and brother, Jim Beavers, Jr. Pallbearers will be Cllint Bowden, Denver Bowden, Bentley Bowden, Rex Youngblood, William H. "Sonny" Bonds, Sam Lucky, John Paul Tallent, and Jay Beavers. If so desired, memorials may be made to the Gladewater Former Students" Association, P.O. Box 1425, Gladewater, Texas 75647. The family is enormously grateful to Gloria Johnson, Patricia Richardson, Velma Lockett, and Mildred"s host of friends for the outpouring of support, thoughts, and prayers expressed during her illness. No formal visitation is scheduled.