Daphne Bowers 8-2-23

Our angel mother, Daphne K. Thornley Bowers, 82, passed away on Sunday, July 23, 2023 surrounded by family after a 12-year struggle with dementia. She was born Nov. 18, 1940, in American Falls, ID, at Schiltz Memorial Hospital. She was the first of six children born to Kendell and Rowene (Kujawa) Thornley. She grew up on a potato farm in Aberdeen, ID.
At the age of three, Daphne was riding in the backseat of the family car, a 1939 Oldsmobile. As her mother drove around a corner, the backdoor came open and Daphne fell out, which caused the hearing impairment that she had the rest of her life.
She was a member of the pep club and graduated in 1959 from Aberdeen High School.
Daphne met Robert Orville Bowers through a mutual friend. After a short courtship, they were married Aug. 3, 1961. Their marriage was later solemnized in the Idaho Falls LDS Temple on Jan. 6, 1970. They have seven children. They enjoyed their little slice of heaven in the country, where they raised crops and a family.
Daphne enjoyed sewing and quilting – especially baby quilts. She won many blue ribbons for her quilting talent. She had friends and family request new blankets. Each of her grandchildren has enjoyed quilts made by her. One Thanksgiving, she surprised all seven of her children with their own denim blanket. She kept the secret for a year that she was making each of them a unique quilt using their own used jeans.
Not to be outdone by her quilting was her ability to bake bread – again winning blue ribbons. Her children enjoyed bread-baking day. They would come from school and smell the aroma of fresh baked bread and rolls that would permeate the house.
Sunday drives were a fun pastime for her and Robert, along with playing cards with her children and friends. When the kids were younger, they went on camping trips to the mountains of Idaho to hunt for rocks. After her dearly beloved passed away, she traveled with friends and family to a variety of fun places.
Daphne was kind hearted and was willing to serve wherever needed.
She was a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Almost all her adult life she attended American Falls First Ward. She was the secretary to many Relief Society presidents and Primary presidents. She was the librarian at the church for quite a while and could be counted on to be on time and stay late, if necessary.
Daphne was preceded in death by her parents, her husband and her youngest brother, Dwight.
She leaves behind: her brother Tim (Pam) Thornley, Lewiston, ID; sisters, Suzanne Darby, Independence, MO, and Bette Lu (Ryan) Chipp, Idaho Falls; and brother, Jay, Lewiston. She also says “I’ll see you later” to her children: Zena (Rick) Thompson, Burley, ID, Randall (LeeAnn) Bowers, Roy, UT, Marc (Monica) Bowers, Lehi, UT, Paul (Kelli) Bowers, Pocatello, Roberta (Jeff) Bugbee, Lewiston, Adam (Wendy) Bowers, Bowling Green, KY, and Jill (Ernie) Eggers, Aberdeen. Her life was blessed with 24 grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren and many wonderful nieces and nephews.
A viewing was held Friday, July 28, from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at the LDS Third and Fourth Ward building, 650 Pocatello Ave., American Falls.
Prior to the funeral honoring our mother, there was a viewing from 9:30 to 10:15 a.m., with services to follow at 10:30, on Saturday, July 29, also at the Third and Fourth Ward building.
Davis-Rose Mortuary is handling the services. There was an interment at Falls View Cemetery at 11:35 a.m.
A special thank you to Janneece Reynolds, Katrina Layman and Enhabit Hospice for their care, support and comforting words during this difficult time.
To order flowers, or to share condolences, memories, and photos, please visit DavisRoseMortuary.com.
To watch the service live, click the link below (the video will begin approximately 15 minutes prior to the start of the service): https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83879886362.