Mary Lynne Bowen

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of our beloved wife and mother, Mary Lynne Bowen. She passed away peacefully on Sunday July 21st, 2024, in Salt Lake City, Utah at the age of 71.

Mary Lynne was born on July 22nd, 1952, in Idaho Falls, Idaho to Frances Denney Harker and John Ray Harker. She was the sixth of eight children born to her parents. Mary Lynne grew up on her father’s farm in Shelley, Idaho. She learned to work hard on the farm and recalled moving sprinkler pipe beginning at the age of six. She often said her favorite memory was when her father decided to quit farming. Mary Lynne graduated from Shelley High School and went on to attain an associate’s degree in art from Rick’s College. She was a talented painter and sculptor, and her family displays her paintings and sculptures in their homes to this day. In the fall of 1972, Mary Lynne attended her senior year at Brigham Young University. She met her sweetheart, Lane Bowen, at a telethon fund raiser for the school. They dated, were engaged by Valentine’s Day, and married in the Logan Temple on August 3rd, 1973.

Lane and Mary Lynne’s first home was in Taylorsville, Utah. They remember those early years with fondness. There they enjoyed gardening and starting a family. Lane held many positions in the physical therapy field. He eventually climbed the corporate ladder, which led to multiple moves. Each time, Mary Lynne packed up their family and moved them to places such as Gig Harbor, WA, Chattanooga, TN, and then Salt Lake City, UT. Wherever she went she had a gift for making a house a home. In their golden years, Lane and Mary Lynne purchased a home in St. George and enjoyed spending time with their grandkids there. The grandkids’ fondest memories are of Mary Lynne catching frogs with them in the backyard, swimming in the pool, and making smores with them on summer nights.

Mary Lynne was a wonderful homemaker, wife, and mother to her five children. Her homes were immaculately maintained, and she always made sure Lane and the kids had home cooked meals. Mary Lynne was deeply devoted to and loved her children fiercely. She attended every volleyball game, dance recital, piano practice, pageant, and parent teacher conference with her children. She made holidays special for her kids and loved to make hand-sewn Halloween costumes for them and elaborate gingerbread houses for Christmas. Mary Lynne and Lane have also been blessed with 20 grandchildren and three great grandchildren, all of whom were blessed to experience her unconditional love.

Mary Lynne was an enthusiastic member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. She was happy and willing to serve wherever she was called. She also loved to attend the temple and had a strong faith in eternal families. Mary Lynne also loved singing Primary songs to her children, a favor they were able to return in the last hours of her life. Mary Lynne was the epitome of Christlike maternal love. She has left a gaping hole in her family’s hearts, and she will be missed every moment of every day.

Mary Lynne is survived by her loving husband, Lane Morrell Bowen of Salt Lake City, UT; daughter Natalie (Junior) Bowen-Taula of Herriman, UT; son, Jonathan (Kellee) Bowen of Spokane, WA; daughter, Nichole (David) Jones of Pullman, WA; daughter, Natasha (Kurtis) Graham of Lehi, UT; daughter, Megan (Kyle) Bowen of Sandy, UT; and six of her siblings. She was preceded in death by her parents, Frances and John Harker and her oldest brother, John Ray Harker II.

The family will hold a public viewing on Friday, July 26th, 2024, at Larkin Sunset Gardens, 1950 E. 10600 S. in Sandy, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. Funeral services will be held Saturday July 27th, 2024, at 11:00 a.m. at Larkin Sunset Gardens with grave dedication and interment immediately thereafter. The funeral will be livestreamed via Zoom and can be accessed by clicking the "Watch Services" button above.