Stephen Bowers
Stephen James Bowers, 20, died Jan. 7, 2006, from injuries sustained in an automobile accident near Manhattan.
He was born Feb. 17, 1985, at the University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City. Greg and Mary Beth Bowers of Marion, who had been praying for another baby for five years, became his adoptive parents.
Stephen was a happy baby, with a jolly and contagious chuckle. As he grew up on the family's farm north of Marion, he was a joy. He was baptized May 21, 2000, and later joined Eastmoor United Methodist Church.
He entered the Marion school system as a kindergartner and graduated from Marion High School in 2004. He participated in wrestling and was a fierce competitor, trying hard to pin the opponent in the first round. He also volunteered in a program to help younger readers at Marion Elementary School.
Stephen was fascinated with fast vehicles. One of his earliest projects was a go-cart he pieced together out of scrounged parts when he was about seven years old. Unfortunately, his determination to get the project rolling exceeded his mechanical skills. The first time he drove it, the motor fell over and caught fire. After the fire was out, he got a replacement motor and put it back together.
He soon moved on to four-wheelers and motorcycles, racing all over the farm. He loved going to Waynoka Dunes in Oklahoma.
Eventually, he discovered personal watercraft, and they quickly became his favorite. He even did some racing this past summer.
Immediately after high school graduation, he worked for Dan's Cycle at Hesston, and lived in Wichita. Many of his high school friends attended Kansas State University, and he eventually moved to Manhattan, getting a job at Topeka Powersports this past summer. He loved life in Manhattan, and developed a wide circle of friends.
Stephen was a natural-born businessman from an early age. When he was building his first go-cart, he would march into Marion Auto Supply and order parts with complete confidence, barely able to see over the counter.
He was an outstanding negotiator, was honest, and always held up his end of the bargain.
He began selling used motorcycles, four-wheelers, jet skis, and parts on eBay. During his final semester of high school, he had enough credits to graduate, but had to meet with the school board to get permission to pursue his eBay business during the afternoons.
On Jan. 7, 2006, Stephen was in a single-car rollover accident. He and two other young men were ejected. Stephen died from massive internal injuries. The other two men are expected to fully recover.
Stephen was preceded in death by his grandmother, Joan Kjellin; cousin, Levi Bowers; and friend and classmate, Calvin Riggs.
Survivors include his parents, Greg and Mary Beth Bowers of Marion; two brothers, Ben and wife, Tasha Bowers of Palmer, Alaska, and Luke Bowers of Marion; sister, Rhonny Bowers of Marion; grandparents, David and Shirley Bowers and Charles Kjellin, all of Marion; niece and nephew, Skyler and Rustin Bowers of Palmer, Alaska; friend and cousin, Mitch Enos of Marion; and many other relatives, members of MHS class of 2004, and a host of friends.
Funeral services were held Wednesday morning at Eastmoor United Methodist Church with the Rev. John Goering officiating.
Burial was in Marion Cemetery.
Memorial funds have been established with Eastmoor United Methodist Church or Marion High School Scholarship Fund.
