Gerard J. "Jerry" Bowles

SERVICES: 10 AM THURSDAY AT ST. PAUL'S CATHOLIC CHURCH IN BRANDON VISITATION: 5-7 PM WEDNESDAY AT OTT AND LEE IN BRANDON WITH AT 7 PM ROSARY 2ND VISITATION: 10 AM FRIDAY AT LAKE LAWN METAIRIE FUNERAL HOME IN METAIRIE, LA SERVICE: 11 AM FRIDAY AT LAKE LAWN FUNERAL HOME ENTOMBMENT: LAKE LAWN PARK CEMETERY AFTER ENTOMBMENT THERE WILL BE A CELEBRATION OF LIFE IN THE CLEARVIEW ROOM AT CLEARVIW MALL Gerard J. Bowles passed away Sunday, October 5, 2014 in Athens, Georgia. Visitation is 5-7 pm Wednesday, October 8, 2014 with a 7 pm Rosary at Ott and Lee Funeral Home in Brandon. A Funeral Mass will be held at 10 am Thursday at St. Paul’s Catholic Church in Brandon. There will also be a visitation at Lake Lawn Metairie Funeral Home in Metairie, LA at 10 am Friday with a service at 11 am at the funeral home with entombment to follow Lake Lawn Park Cemetery. Gerard Jude "Jerry" Bowles was born in Philadelphia, PA on Nov. 28, 1932 to Raymond Waller and Catherine Morning Bowles. He was preceded in death by his parents and brother, Raymond Bowles. He is survived by daughters Anita Simmons (Bill) Alpine, WY, Darice Jones (Will) of Statham, GA and Michele Clarke (Joff) of Biloxi, MS; nine grandchildren, eleven great-grandchildren; sister, Helen Roy (Lennie) of Houma, LA; brothers, Robert Bowles (Jackie) of Metairie, LA and Jim Bowles (Dale) Holden, LA; sister-in-law Gwen Bowles of Shreveport, LA. Jerry grew up in New Orleans and graduated from Warren Easton High School and from Southeastern Louisiana College. Jerry served 8 years in the Louisiana National Guard. After college, he was a salesman for various clothing lines and was employed at Capitol Menswear until 2000. For years he managed the MMBAC Clothing Show. Jerry was recognized with the Carnegie Medal for Heroism, Mississippi Highway Safety Champion Award, Jefferson Award for Public Service, Mississippi Blood Services Sister Josephine Theresa Award and the Daily Points of Light Award. He volunteered at the Methodist Rehabilitation Center, St. Dominic's Hospital, St. Catherine Village, Mississippi Blood Services and was active with St. Paul Catholic Church in Brandon, MS where he served as a parishioner. Jerry also belonged to the Dixie Travelers Square Dance Group. In lieu of flowers, the family request memorials to the Mustard Seed, the John Paul II Medical Research Institute or the St. Paul’s Catholic Church Building Fund. .

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