Jean Shepard

Elizabeth Gayle Bowman

Elizabeth Gayle (Ware) Bowman passed away Thursday, September 22, 2016 at Floyd Medical Center in Rome, Georgia after a lengthy battle with cancer. Gayle was born in Rome on December 16, 1949 to parents Walter and Marion Ware. She was a 1967 graduate of West Rome High School, and then began her lifelong career in Histology after completing Floyd’s school of Histo-Technology in 1968. She retired from Redmond Regional Medical Center after 37 years of dedicated service.

Gayle was preceded in death by her mother, father, and one brother, Wayne Ware of Florida. She is survived by her brother Tim Ware of Alabama, as well as two sons Chris Coley and Leslie Coley, her daughter April Walker, and son-in-law Sean Walker, all residents of Rome. She was also survived by five grandchildren, Zach Smith, Katie Elizabeth Coley, Breanna Bowers, Olivia Walker, and Alex Walker, as well as several nieces and nephews.

The family will have a Celebration of Life service for Gayle on Tuesday, September 27, 2016 at 5pm at Good Shepherd Funeral Home in Rome. Family visitation will be from 4pm to 5pm. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Floyd Heyman Hospice Care in her honor.

Parnick Jennings, Sr.’s Good Shepherd Funeral Home 2750 Shorter Ave. Rome, Ga. 30165 has charge of arrangements.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Jean Shepard, “the grand lady of the Grand Ole Opry” who had a long recording career as an influential female in country music, died Sunday, according to an Opry spokeswoman. Shepard was 82. Spokeswoman Jessie Schmidt said in a news release that Shepard had entered hospice care last week and died in Nashville.

“The Opry family is truly saddened by the news of Jean’s passing,” Opry vice president and general manager Pete Fisher said in the statement. “Although we will miss Jean’s presence on the Opry stage, she has left us the wonderful gift of her music which will be remembered for generations to come.”

Shepard joined the cast of the Grand Ole Opry in 1955.

The Associated Press