Joanne (Miller) Bowland

Joanne Miller Bowland of Johnstown (formerly Akron), Colorado went home to be with the Lord on October 27, 2021. Joanne was born on May 6, 1932, in Kyle, Texas to James Leslie Miller Senior, and Lena Estelle Preece Miller.

She graduated from High School in Lometa, Texas. Joanne met her husband, Ken Bowland, at the drive-in where she worked as a car hop in Abilene, TX. They were married in Raton, NM on October 28, 1954. Together they raised four children and for a time some of their nieces and nephews.

Joanne’s number one priority was her family, whether she was known as Mom, Granny, Aunt Jody or just Joanne, she was always deeply loved, appreciated, and honored by her family members. Her home may have been simple, but it was always welcoming and filled with laughter and love. Her love was always demonstrated in kindness, acceptance, hospitality and the preparation of everyone’s culinary favorites including granny’s spaghetti, beans and cornbread, peach cobbler, fried chicken, and her famous pies. When Joanne was humming in the kitchen everyone knew that they were in for a treat. Joanne will always be remembered and honored for her strength, kindness, love, hospitality, her simple smile that was always accompanied by a twinkle in her eye, that somehow let you know that you were special and deeply loved.

Joanne is survived and remembered by many in her large close-knit family, including her daughter Carla and husband Jerry Carr and their children Lance Carr and Teresa Cralley and her husband Jason, son Randy Ivy and wife Carolyn and children Joshua Christopherson, twins Jason and Justin Ivy, Jennifer Bartlett and husband Hugh, Cameron Ivy and his wife Cambrilynn, Colton Ivy, Hunter Ivy, daughter Kelle and husband Jerry Kile and children Waco, Trey and Bailey Dreher and her husband Jaden, and daughter-in law Ruth Ann Bowland and children Kayla Crain and her husband Chris, and Rease Bowland and wife Taylor, sisters-in-law Barbara Miller, Alma Miller and many grandchildren, great-great grandchildren, and numerous nieces and nephews. All of which held a special place in her heart.

Joanne was preceded in death by her husband Norval Kent Bowland, son Norval Kent Bowland Jr. (Kenny), her parents, James and Lena Miller, James Miller Jr., Dean and Loretta Miller, Donald Miller, Margie Spradling, Walter and Phebe Bowland, Elsie Bowland, Margaret Bowland,

The family has requested that remembrances be made in the form of contributions to Alzheimer’s Association of Colorado or Spina Bifida Texas.