Carolyn Kaye Bowers

Carolyn Kay Bowers, 90, passed away on Friday, September 5, 2025 at Prairie Vista Village. She was born August 23, 1935 in Runnells, Iowa to her parents, Everett and Ruth Adams.

Carolyn graduated from Runnells High School in 1953. She graduated from Drake University in 1973 with a bachelor of Science Degree for Elementary Education, with an additional degree for Special Education for the Mentally Disabled. Carolyn taught for the Southeast Polk School District, Des Moines School District and Carlisle Community Schools from which she retired in 1990. She also held a position of Counselor for the Polk Juvenile Home in Des Moines.

Carolyn was a member of the Runnells Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. She gave many hours of volunteer service throughout the years in various ways. Carolyn had given many hours of volunteer service throughout the years in various ways. She had lived in Runnells the majority of her life. She had a great commitment to her faith in God and in the past had shared much of her time in the service of the Lord. Carolyn enjoyed reading, especially scriptures and related materials.

Caroyln enjoyed playing the piano by ear and music in general. She also enjoyed flowers and had created many beds and berms at the lake Ponderosa home and her Runnells residences.

Her love for children and teaching was undying as she shared her profession in the field of teaching disabled students as well as the regular classroom. She missed her association with children when she was forced to retire due to back surgeries and continued complications from those.

She loved her grandchildren and found great joy in spending time with them in their chosen activities.

Her family and children were important to her and she was always available to help when needed.

For several years she enjoyed her part in offering ministry to the elderly residents of the Candleridge Apartments in Runnells, providing meals, worship and fellowship. She had a fondness for maintaining a clean household and loved decorating for the seasons.

In the past years, she shared with her devoted husband, Billy, in traveling to the south and residing in a senior recreational vehicle resort in Texas to escape the Iowa winters. In the past Carolyn and her husband, Billy, also worshipped at Adventure Life Church in Altoona, seeking the experience of other churches’ worship.

Carolyn is survived by her son, Brad (Jodi) Bowers of Carlisle, Iowa; daughter, Brenda Anderson of Altoona, Iowa; grandchildren, Bryan (Carianne McCormick) Bowers of Pleasantville and Lindsey Anderson of Altoona; brothers, Jerry Adams and Jim (Douglas McCormick) Adams; sister-in-law, Judy Adams; and a host of other loving family members.

She was preceded in death by her husband, William “Billy” Bowers in 2024; her parents, Everett and Ruth Adams; brothers, Charles Everett Adams and Jon Michael Adams; sister, Jeanne (Gary) Beck; and sister-in-law, Carole Adams

Family will greet friends Tuesday September 16, 2025 from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. at Hamilton’s Altoona Funeral Home, 105 4th Street SW, in Altoona, with a memorial service to begin at 12 p.m. Interment will follow at Lowman Cemetery in Runnells.

Memorial contributions may be directed to Adventure Life Church or the Runnells Historical Society.

Online condolences may be made at www.HamiltonsFuneralHome.com

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