James David Bowland

James David Bowland was born on August 1, 1930 in Burnwood Township, Kansas to James David and Jennie (Lily) Bowland. He was one of nine children in the family and lived in McDonald and Atwood, Kansas and Stratton, Nebraska before moving to Wray in 1944. Jim died peacefully at the Laredo Medical Center in Laredo, Texas on March 28, 2015. He was 84.
Jim worked at many different jobs while he was growing up developing many skills that would serve him throughout life. He married Helen Noffsinger on May 9, 1948 in Howard, Kansas. They celebrated 34 years together before her death in 1982.
Jim began working for Harry Schmidt on his farm seven miles south of Wray in 1949 and would raise his family on the farm over the next twenty years. He was involved in all aspects of farming and ranching but also developed mechanic, carpentry and construction skills while working for Harry. He began his own custom farming business in 1969 and would later become one of the owners of Bugs Farm Supply. After leaving the farm implement business, Jim began his own construction business. He did all types of remodeling and building projects and became very good at brick and masonry work. He built three homes on South Blake Street as examples of his craft.
Jim married Barbara Lightle on December 31, 1982 in Wray. Before leaving Wray in 1997, Jim returned to farm work, but found the physical work becoming too much. Jim and Barbara moved to Zapata, Texas in 1997 where the climate was much warmer and he was able to live the last 18 years on the Falcon Reservoir where he enjoyed fishing and boating. For a number of years in Zapata he continued to do handyman tasks, worked at oil and gas drilling sites, and delivered newspapers around Zapata.
Fishing was Jim’s biggest hobby. While in Wray he was always finding places to fish. He was very good at fishing and enjoyed having fish fries to celebrate his catch. The big draw to Zapata was also the desire to live very close to Falcon Reservoir and spend as much time as possible in his boat fishing. He had a number of friends he enjoyed spending time with on the lake. After his stroke five years ago he was no longer able to enjoy his passion, but was able to spend time sitting on the porch and look out at the lake.
Jim was preceded in death by his wife Helen; his parents; one brother, Raymond Bowland; and a sister, Millie Weed.
He is survived by his wife Barbara of Zapata; two sons: Jamie “Chuck” Bowland and his wife Joyce of Longmont, CO and Randy Bowland and his wife Rita of Otis, CO; his daughter, Dee Ann Stults and her husband Casey of Vernon, CO; eight grandchildren: Ryan, Callie, Melissa, Allyson, Cassie, Zach, Ben, and Tim; eight great grandchildren: Bayle, Kayle, Liam, Grady, Morgan, Jenna, Tyler, and John. Also surviving are five sisters: Alma Dickson, Jane Young, Lucy Criger, Romma Lee Coppnol and Norma Dee Allen; and one brother Ronald.
Also surviving are Barbara’s daughters: Edith Wacker and husband Richard, Vicky Wilcox and husband Bill, April Gibson and husband Mike and byBarbara’s nine grandchildren and 5 great-grandchildren. There are also many additional family members and friends that survive Jim and will miss him.
Visitation was held on Thursday, April 2 from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. with family present to great. A Celebration of Jim’s Life was held at 10:30 a. m. on Friday, April 3 at the Schmidt-Jones Funeral Home. Burial will follow the service at Grandview Cemetery.
Memorials may be given to Hospice of the Plains, P. O. Box 365, Wray, CO 80758, in Jim’s memory.