Jacquelyne Kay “Jacky” Bowers passed away Saturday, September 23, 2023 at the North Mississippi Medical Center. She was 81 years old. Jacky was born September 8, 1942 in Marion, Ohio to Roscoe and Joanne Waters Gruber. In 1960 she married the love of her life, Les Bowers, and celebrated 63 years of marriage on September 15th. Jacky was a committed Christian who was involved in various ministries of the churches of which she was a member. For over 40 years she worked for the federal government as a testing coordinator throughout Kentucky, Tennessee, and Mississippi. She and her husband, Les, relocated to Tupelo in 1989. Jacky was an avid sports fan, supporting Kentucky Wildcats Basketball, Ohio State Football, as well as the Cincinnati Reds and Bengals. She loved her family even more, supporting and encouraging their endeavors.
Jacky leaves behind her husband Les Bowers; four children, Kelly Cohen and husband, Pete, Linda Anderson and husband, Larry, Robert Bowers and wife, Holly, and Debbie Banko and husband, Joe; nine grandchildren, Ryan McCoy, Derek Bowers, Karis Hayford, Wesley Anderson, Kaylyn Sites, Jordan Cohen, Bethany Hilyer, Brenton Banko, and Abbie Banko; her siblings, Gloria “Gig” McMahan, Jim Gruber, John Gruber, Sue Rosesberry, Pete Gruber, Bonnie Dendinger, and Donna Jo Cook.
She was preceded in death by her grandparents, Leroy and Gladys Waters, parents and a brother, Steve Gruber.
A Memorial Service celebrating Jacky’s life will be held Saturday at Cornerstone Methodist Church on President Street in Tupelo. Family will receive visitors at 12 p.m. followed by a Celebration Service at 1 p.m.. Pegues Funeral Directors has been entrusted with the arrangements.
In lieu of flowers the family requests donations be made to North Mississippi Medical Center Hospice Unit at nmhsfoundation.org or HCF Hospice Unit, 830 South Gloster St., Tupelo MS 38801.
