Hattie Joy Bowen - known lovingly as Joy to all - passed away on May 19, 2020.  She was born December 30, 1924, the youngest child of Hesbee and Grace (Palmer) Bracken, near the North Carolina-Tennessee border.  Her family briefly relocated to Stark County, Ohio, but when the Great Depression descended on the country, her father lost his job and the family hit the road along with so many others.  They returned to their native mountains and with hard work and kind neighbors built a farm near Hayesville, North Carolina.  She went on to study at Western Carolina Teachers' College in Cullowhee, N.C., not far from home.  Not long after that, she met a smart, sharp-witted, true-blooded New England Yankee, Bill Bowen, while he was on leave from the United States Army.  Joy and Bill married in 1945.  In her later years, she loved to recall her very first encounter with her new proper-Bostonian in-laws, who met her pregnant, barefoot and all by herself at South Station.  She and Bill raised four children together.  After their older children were settled, they relocated to Easley, S.C. in 1971, setting up house right next door to her dear sister, Irene Bateman (who passed away in 2010).  Following the passing of her beloved Bill in 2010, she relocated a final time to Little Rock, Arkansas, where she lived mainly with her daughter, JoAnn, pursuing her passion for mystery novels ("Honey, I read the large print").  In 2011, she traveled the furthest west she had ever been, just across the Continental Divide in Utah.

She is survived by her four children, Bill Bowen Jr, JoAnn Bischof, Bruce Bowen and Bob Bowen; seven grateful grandchildren, Heather Zalduondo (Carlos), Heidi Bowen (Tikataake T Tekiera), Ben Crowe (Kristin-Smith Crowe), Nick Crowe, Rachael Bowen, Aaron Bowen and Carolina Bowen; six lively great grandchildren, Sofi and Lili Zalduondo, Sabera and Baylee Tikataake, James and Charlotte Crowe.

All will miss her stories, her humor, her quiet strength and especially her warm affection.  Memorials may be made to an animal rescue organization of your choice.  A private family celebration of her life will be scheduled at a later date. Cremation arrangements are under the direction of Cremation Services of Arkansas (501)313-5431.