Annette Thomas Bowman

September 22, 1911- January 13, 2016
Annette Thomas Bowman, 104, gently passed into her new life at 7:30 a.m. Wednesday, Jan. 13, 2016, at her home in Berwick.
Left to celebrate her long and fruitful life are Annette’s daughter and son-in-law, Charlotte Bowman Bowers and husband, Keith, of Houston; and her grandchildren, Charles Amrhein of New York City, and John and Nikola Amrhein of Berlin, Germany.
Annette was born to Sarah Luke Thomas and David S. Thomas in Bayou Sale Friday, Sept. 22, 1911, one of a pair of identical twin girls. Her twin, Ann Thomas Forgey Williams, pre-deceased her on the twins’ 91st birthday, Sunday, Sept. 22, 2002.
When the twins were two years old, Annette and her family moved to Berwick where she lived the remainder of her life, 102 years. She played basketball and graduated Morgan City High School, Class of 1930. This class began the graduation tradition of the “Moss Rope,” and the tradition continues today.
During those 102 years, she stayed busy with the garden club, hospital auxiliary, sewing club, PTA, Berwick United Methodist Church, and her family. Her family always came first. She and Ann did almost everything together, very often entertaining family. Many times they would meet to go somewhere, and without having consulted each other, they would show up wearing the same outfits.
Charles Bowman became her husband in 1933. She kept his house, reared their daughter, and worked with him at Bowman Oil Company on Berwick Bay. Hers was a full Christian life.
Her parents and her twin preceded her in death, as did her other siblings, Dave Thomas Jr., Kenneth Thomas Sr. and Ywell Thomas Sr. Also pre-deceasing Annette are her nephews, Dave “Bobby” Thomas, Ywell “Tommy” Thomas Jr. and Kenneth Thomas Jr.
Along with her immediate family, Annette’s extended family are left to honor her life through the many memories she helped create, her nephew, Tom Forgey and companion, Diane T. Martin, of Berwick; and nieces, Charlie Ann Forgey Eues and husband, Wayne, of Berwick, Patsy M. Thomas (Dave) of Berwick, Kay Rees and husband, Al, of Lafayette, Sarah L. Thomas of Franklin, Anne T. Moore of Houma, Connie T. Tyrone of Calico Rock, Arkansas, Cherry Thomas (Ywell Jr.) of Gibson, and Joan G. McCloskey and husband, Sloan, of Morgan City. Added to these are many great-nephews, nieces, cousins, and friends.
The family especially thanks Charlie Ann Eues and Patsy Thomas for the care and love they gave Annette throughout her life. Besides visiting daily, they were her “own personal meals on wheels.”
The family is also indebted to Rosemary Bird who has been helping Annette for the last six years; living next door, she went to Annette’s whenever she was called. Added to that, she chauffeured her to appointments and shopped for her. Annette’s other faithful helpers during the last few months are Gail Rogers, Gina Reed, Tanya Theriot, Diana Briehn and Wanda Crappell. These ladies helped make Annette’s life comfortable.
Visitation will begin at 9 a.m., Saturday, Jan. 16, at Berwick United Methodist Church until the time of the memorial service at 11 a.m. Burial will be in Berwick Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations may be mailed to UMC of Berwick, P.O. Box 60, Berwick, LA 70342.