Marguarita (Rita) Ida Doty Bowen, 85 of Van Buren passed away Sunday, September 20th at her home in Van Buren. Rita was born March 28, 1930 in Hampshire, IL the daughter of Raymond H. Doty and Irene M. (Getzelman) Doty. She was the second youngest of 9 children. On July 15, 1950 she married John T. Bowen in Hampshire. The couple had three sons, Raymond, Ronald and Richard. In 1963 the family moved to Marengo, IL. During their time in Marengo she was employed by McGill Metal Products and Marengo Packing. In 1979 they moved to Van Buren AR. While in Van Buren she was employed at several Day Care Centers including First Baptist Church and Heritage United Methodist Church where she loves working in the nursery. When she retired from her Day Care December of 2004 she began volunteering at Summit Medical Center Hospital Auxiliary volunteer of the year in 2010. She served on the auxiliary board as second vice president for 7 years. She loved volunteering at the Hospital. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, John; son, Raymond; Step son, Michael; one sister, Juanita; five brothers: Harold, Ronald, Everett, Darwin Dean and Ralph.

Funeral service will be at 10 AM Friday, September 25, 2015 at Ocker Memorial Chapel in Van Buren with burial at Gill Cemetery in Van Buren under the direction of Ocker Funeral Home in Van Buren.

She is survived by two sons Ronald (Christine) of Blue Springs, MO and Richard (Yvonne) of Niponma, CA; One stepson John and his wife Miriam of Phoenix, AZ.; Two brothers William Doty (Caroline) of Genoa, IL and Dale Doty of Footville WI; Three Grandchildren and 6 great grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.
In addition she is survived by her adopted daughter Shirley Robinson (Jackie) of Mountainburg; two grandsons, Brian and Christopher Sizemore; five great grandchildren.

The family will visit with relatives and friends Thursday, September 24, 2015 from 5:00 to 7:00 P.M. at Ocker Funeral Home 700 Jefferson Street, Van Buren.

In Lieu of flowers memorial can be made to Sparks Van Buren Volunteer Auxiliary East Main/ South 20th Street Van Buren, Arkansas 72956

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