Sharon Avants Bowen

Sharon Avants Bowen, of Forney, passed away peacefully on April 16, 2024 into the presence of her Lord.

Sharon was born October 2, 1945 in New Orleans, LA and raised in Metairie, LA. Sunday school and church were always a part of Sharon’s life. In later years it also made up a large part of her social life. She was involved in the choir, Sunday School, church and Sunday night social activities. Childhood activities included roller skating, playing “it” playing “school” where she was always the teacher and putting on plays.

After graduation from high school, Sharon attended Mississippi College and graduated with a BS degree in Biology. While in college, she was very active with notable recognitions including:

• Sweetheart of Collegiate Civitan, a service organization to build better communities and to encourage “the Golden Rule” in all human relations.

• President’s Cabinet – student advisory group to the president.

• Alpha Epsilon Delta – Recognize premedical scholarship.

• Tribesman Yearbook staff

• Class favorite

• Homecoming Court After graduation, Sharon taught school in Jackson, MS for three years before moving to Dallas, TX. She continued her education earning a master’s degree in Liberal Arts from SMU. Sharon taught for the Dallas Independent School District for over 30 years. The last 17 years was with the hospital home bound division where her students were either in the hospital or confined to home.

Sharon and her devoted husband, Weldon, have been married for over 36 years. They moved to Forney, TX in 1990 where Sharon became very active. Two of the things she enjoyed the most was serving on the Board of Ellen Brooks West Memorial Library and the Board of Directors of the Forney Historic Preservation League. While on the FHPL Board, Sharon was very instrumental in the creation and development of The Spellman Museum of Forney History.

She loved the outdoors. She was a very active gardener where she often planted more than she could possibly use. There were always neighbors willing to take the excess vegetables. She loved taking care of her many animals including cats, birds, horses, dogs, donkeys and even an Artic wolf that she let live in the house. She often said Isaac, the wolf, was the sweetest animal she ever had. Another of Sharon’s passions was sketching and painting. This is a talent she rarely talked about but when people saw her work, they were quite impressed.

As Sharon embodied a servant’s heart for others, the general overview of her was that Sharon was a sweet, caring and loving person whom everyone was proud to call ‘My Friend’.

Sharon was preceded in death by her father: Arnold J. Avants and mother: Leona F. Avants She is survived by her husband Weldon L. Bowen; sister, Gayle A. Bastian and husband, Dave; brothers: Allan A. Avants and wife, Shirley, Arnold J. Avants, Jr. and wife, Kathy; step-daughters: Holly B. McMahan and husband, Jay, Wendy B. Perry and husband, Landon; grandsons: Austin McMahan and wife, Alice, Brenton McMahan and Ryan Perry; granddaughter, Lexi Perry; nephews: Allan Avants, Jr, Kyle Avants, Arnold Avants, III, Johnny Avants and wife, Erin; nieces: Jessica Shepard and husband, Jason, Casey Brunet and husband, Cochise; great grandsons: Benjamin, Bowen & Barrett McMahan as well as other extended family, her church family and a host of friends.

Funeral service was Tuesday, April 23, 2024 at the Forum at First Baptist Church in Forney. Interment to followed at Hillcrest Cemetery. Her family received friends from 1:00pm to service time.

For those wishing, memorials may be made in Sharon’s name to The Spellman Museum of Forney History at https://historicforney. org/spellmanmuseum/.