Jerome P. Bowers

Jerome P. "Jerry" Bowers, 75, of Clayton passed from this world into the realm of the spirit Saturday morning, April 20, 2024, at Samaritan Keep Home where he had been a resident since January.

   Jerry was born in Harrisburg, PA on March 28, 1949, son of the late Benjamin and Elsie (Dare) Bowers. He graduated high school in Hazleton, PA and spent one year at Wilkes College in Wilkes Barre, PA. On September 28, 2006 he married Joan D. Varsics in Saranac Lake and the marriage was blessed at the Church of St. Luke the Beloved Physician in Saranac Lake on July 7, 2007.

   After leaving Wilkes College, Jerry spent time working at a ski resort in Vermont and then crossed the country with a team selling magazines door-to-door. He enjoyed his adventure and encountered many interesting people during his travels. When Jerry arrived in California, he made his home with his brother, Eugene "Gene" Bowers (deceased) and his wife, Dolly. Jerry had the fondest memories of the time spent with them and their family. He attended the Los Angeles Trade Technical College, receiving a degree as an Automotive Service Technician.  Jerry's passion was dirt biking and he was employed as a Service Department Manager for a Honda motorcycle dealership. Jerry met his former wife, Kathy Dineen Bowers, during this time. Jerry and Kathy welcomed their beloved daughter, Melanie (Bowers) Wright, in 1977. Jerry moved to a new job as a cable splicer and "phone line trouble shooter" for General Telephone and Electronics Corporation (GTE) in Santa Barbara, CA. In his spare time, he learned how to make custom knives. Jerry delighted in selling his creations at knife shows and learning from other knife craftsmen. When GTE was acquired by Verizon, Jerry decided to return to the automotive world and purchased a MAC Tools franchise as the family moved to Sonoma, CA. He enjoyed being on the road and spending time with other car and motorcycle enthusiasts.

  Jerry returned to PA in 1995 to be close to his family there. He spent some time living with his sister, Janet Nelson (deceased), in Mechanicsburg, PA . Jerry had the honor of being in the wedding party when Janet's son, Craig, married Tammy Markel.  He also spent time with his sister, Barbara Wagner, and her husband, James "Jim," of Weatherly, PA. Jerry had wonderful memories of the trip the three of them took to Ireland. He then moved to Pittsburgh, PA , and did contract work for Bell of PA, teaching cable splicing and serving "on call" as an emergency technician. Meanwhile, Jerry's sister Janet, was busy plotting a possible match for her much-younger brother. She was a founding member of St. Peter's Lutheran Church in Mechanicsburg, PA, and had become acquainted with Joan Varsics when they served on the church building committee in 1997. Janet approached Joan, saying, "I really think you and my brother would hit it off. Would you be interested in meeting him the next time he comes home?" Joan looked at this much-older lady and managed a polite, "How old is your brother, Janet?" Janet laughed and said, "He's younger than me by almost twenty years." Jerry and Joan talked by phone for two hours and met in-person the next time Jerry visited Janet. After a few months of a long-distance romance, Jerry's employer transferred him to Central PA, where he set up his home and continued doing emergency work as a contractor for Bell of PA.

  Jerry had visited the Adirondacks as a young boy with his family and took Joan there for a vacation in 1999. After she said, "I think I could live there" three times during the trip back to PA, Jerry made many house-hunting visits back to NY and purchased a chalet in The Acres in Jay, NY. In December of 2000, Joan sold her home in PA and joined him there. They enjoyed six happy years in that home. Jerry taught Joan to fly fish and they spent many hours wading and fly fishing in the West Branch of the Ausable River. Jerry kept busy working part-time in a hardware store and devoted many hours to making improvements to the house. He got his license as a NY Fishing Guide, taking people to the best fishing spots on the Ausable River. Jerry volunteered in a program teaching young people to fly fish and found it very rewarding. Participating as a fly-casting judge at the Great Outdoor Games in Lake Placid was a highlight of that time.

  In 2006, Jerry oversaw the building of a new home deep in the woods of Loon Lake, NY. Jerry and Joan switched to fly fishing from kayaks and treasured their time spent on the lake. The couple learned animal tracking and spent many hours hiking and snowshoeing on their property. Finding a moose and her youngster in their front yard one morning was a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Jerry loved traveling, with his camera always at the ready. Watching movies and Ken Burns series on PBS was another favorite pastime. He was a voracious reader and studied every book he could find about the Lewis and Clark expedition. 

  Joan had an opportunity for a career advancement in 2011 and the couple moved to Clayton, NY. For several years, they divided their time between Loon Lake and Clayton. The couple decided to sell their Loon Lake property and become full-time residents of Clayton in 2016. Jerry enjoyed living in Clayton, spending time fishing in yet another beautiful place and taking advantage of all the activities Clayton has to offer. He spent several summers volunteering for special events at the Antique Boat Museum. Jerry had the thrill of visiting his dear friend, Bill Saunders, in the Pacific Northwest for sturgeon fishing and was able to visit the End of the Lewis & Clark National Historical Trail in Seaside, Oregon, during his visit. Jerry's final trip was a cross-country Amtrak journey from Syracuse to Sacramento, in 2019, to spend Christmas with Melanie, her husband, Jason and his two treasured grandchildren, Logan and Jocelyn.

  Besides the people already named, Jerry is survived by his wife, Joan, his brother-in-law, Winslow R. "Brownie" Brown II, numerous cousins, nieces, nephews and his faithful canine companion, Luke. Along with his parents and other deceased family members named above, he was predeceased by his sister, Caroline Brown, and his brother, Roger Bowers.

   Joan wishes to express a special thank you on Jerry's behalf to Craig and Tammy Nelson, along with their son, Christopher. Their love, support and numerous trips from PA to help during Jerry's extended illness meant more than mere words can express.

   Jerry's family would also like to say a special thank you to the staff at Samaritan Keep Home and Hospice of Jefferson County for their care and devotion to Jerry. The 8th Floor staff at Samaritan Keep Home cared for him as if he were a member of their family.

   Memorial services will be held at the convenience of his family at a later date. Arrangements are entrusted with Cummings Funeral Service, Inc., Clayton and online condolences to his family may be posted at www.cummingsfuneral.com. In lieu of flowers, donations in Jerry's name may be made to the SPCA of Jefferson County, 25056 Water St., Watertown, NY 13601 or WPBS-TV, 1056 Arsenal St., Watertown, NY 13601.

 Davis

Mon, Apr 22 at 10:06 AM

@yahoo.com

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