Mary Bowers

Mary Helen Bowers was born September 23, 1939, in Beeville, Texas, to Kathryn (Hickman) and Daniel Monroe Fairly, Sr. She began riding horses at age two or three, rode in a parade in downtown Beeville at age four, and rode as part of a quadrille team during high school. She also worked part-time for the Beeville Bee-Picayune.
After graduating from A.C. Jones High School in Beeville in 1957, she went to Texas Tech University, where she joined the Zeta Tau Alpha sorority. Shortly after she graduated with a B.A. in journalism, she married Dr. David R. Bowers on June 9, 1961 at First Presbyterian Church of Beeville.
They moved to the Bryan-College Station area when he joined the journalism faculty at Texas A&M University in 1964. For nine years she raised their three young sons and was the director of the First Presbyterian Day School during some of that time.
She began working at Texas A&M in 1973. Over the next 33 years she served as the editor of the university catalog, assistant to the dean of admissions, assistant to the vice president for academic affairs, director of educational information services, deputy director of university relations, and deputy director of special event facilities at Reed Arena. While working full-time, she obtained a M.S. in educational administration from Texas A&M in 1977. The Association of Former Students gave her the Distinguished Achievement Award for staff and administration in 1987. A highlight of her career was being the editor of the university's successful proposal to President George H.W. Bush for his presidential library and museum and thereafter serving as the university’s liaison to President Bush’s office and foundation for the dedication of the library and museum.
Mrs. Bowers served for years as one of the university's representatives to the Council for the Advancement and Support of Education (CASE). She was elected as the chair of the five-state southwest district of CASE for a two-year term beginning in 1986. CASE awarded her the distinguished achievement award for that district in 1991. While at a CASE conference, she stunned her colleagues by stepping into a bullring in Ciudad Juarez with a cape and evading an angry bull that made several passes.
She was a member of First Presbyterian for 48 years, and served much of that time in various leadership positions, including serving several times as an elder. In addition, she served on the board of directors of the Bryan-College Station Chamber of Commerce and the Briarcrest Country Club. She also was a founder of the Zeta Tau Alpha chapter at Texas A&M in 1975 and supported that chapter for years.
Mrs. Bowers died June 6, 2013, at St. Paul University Hospital in Dallas. She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, and one brother, Dan Fairly. She is survived by her sons and their wives: Chris Bowers and Veronica Cuadra of Dallas; Dan Bowers and Shannon of Dallas; and Scott Bowers and Stephanie of Frisco, Texas. She is also survived by her grandchildren: Brandon, Avery, Kathryn, Julia, Wilson, Connor, and Morgan. Friends and family will remember her as an avid traveler, a gourmet cook, and a generous and devoted "Dama" to her seven grandchildren.
“Well done, good and faithful servant…” ― Matthew 25:21
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Memorials may be made to First Presbyterian Church of Bryan