Pearl Alma PICKETT

GEDCOM Note

Last Rites Held For Pearl Bowen Funeral services for Mrs. Pearl Bowen were held from the United Methodist Church of Rockford on Friday, November 9, at 2:00 p.m. with the Reverend Carroll E. Robinson and the Reverend George W. Baker officiating. Interment in Riverside Cemetery. Schumburg Funeral Home in charge of funeral arrangements. Pearl Alma Pickett, daughter of John R. and Sarah (Smith) Pickett was born September 2, 1881 near Scott Center. She attended the rural schools and Rockford High School. Following graduation from high school with the class of 1900, she joined herparents who had gone earlier in the year to pioneer in South Dakota. There she taught in the rural schools. While in South Dakota, she "proved up" on government land and her experiences as a pioneer homesteader have been a source of satisfaction to her through the years since. On November 23, 1904 she was united in marriage to James Louis Bowen. After spending the winter in Arizona they settled on a farm east of Rockford. With the exception of 5 years in Marshalltown, Iowa, she lived in the Rockford vicinity since then. Mr. and Mrs. Bowen were happy to celebrate their Golden Wedding Anniversary in 1954. The following spring Mr. Bowen passed away. Home and family have always meant much to her, especially as her family circle has grown. During the earlier years of her marriage she was active in Farm Bureau Extension Work, the Daughters of the American Revolution, the W.C.T.U. and Woman's Club. She served as president of the Rockford Woman's Club and later as Citizenship Chairman.In this office, she delighted in thinking of ways to impress upon young people their civic responsibilities. She considered the right to vote as a real privilege. She was made a Life Patron of the W.C.T.U. on her 90th birthday. From young womanhood, throughout her life, she rejoiced in the privilege of Church Membership, working in the Sunday School, Missionary Society, and wherever she seemed to be needed. She prized the plaque that honored her for 25 years as Superintendent of the Rockford Methodist Sunday School. Being appointed Steward Emeritus in later years meant a great deal to her, as did the 75 year Church membership pin which she received in 1972. Her special membership pin from the Woman's Society ofChristian Service has also been a source of joy. In addition to the many offices she held in the local church, she served as District Secretary of Spiritual Life, and District Secretary of the Junior Missionary Work, and was a member of the United Methodist Builders. On Tuesday, November 6, 1973 she responded to the call of her Heavenly Father to come and continue her labors of love in his nearer presence. Just the afternoon before she had especially enjoyed a visit with one of her granddaughters and two of hergreat grandchildren. This must be a day of happy reunion for Pearl as she has gone home to renew acquaintance with her friends and loved ones who have gone on before, including her parents, her husband, a baby daughter, two grandchildren and one sister. Remaining here to rejoice in the life she has lived and to appreciate the influence she has been in their lives are one son, Lloyd R. Bowen of Bremerton, Washington; three daughters, Mrs. Everett (Ferne) White of Mitchell, Iowa, Bernice Bowen and Mrs. Lester (Esther) Kock both of Rockford; a daughter-in-law and two sons-in-law; eleven grandchildren; twenty-three great grandchildren; one sister, Mrs. Iva Dale Gay of Menlo Park, California; one brother, C. Dwight Pickett of Seattle, Washington; one aunt, several nieces, nephews and cousins, and many, many friends. The following is a Christmas Poem Pearl wrote about 1965 or 1966: BETHLEHEM'S STAR Behold a star in the world's dark night Shone bright with its light from above, As it heralded news to a needy world of God's wonderful gift of Love.

Only a Star! Though the Wise Men made haste And traveled from lands afar, But the world has been learning to choose God's way By the light of that Bethlehem's Star.

Just a Star! But see its radiant beams Guiding wayfarers along the way To find in a manger a new born hope, And the dawn of a brighter day.

O! a wonderful Star for you and for me! Bringing beauty and peace sublime, And it shines in hearts around the world At our glorious Christmas Time.