Kathryn June Hamilton Bowman-Stone, 57, El Dorado Springs, was born June 10, 1953, in Springfield to Leck and Antonia Hamilton. She came home to Cedar County to join her 13 brothers and sisters and she lived in Cedar County her entire life. She passed away Sept. 18, 2010, at her home surrounded by loved ones after a short illness of ALS.
She lived her early years in the Black Jack and Caplinger Mills communities. In 1962, her family moved to El Dorado Springs.
She graduated from El Dorado Springs High School in 1972. She worked at Betty McQuirk's drive in and Dunbrooke Shirt Factory.
Kathy married Danny Rodgers and to this union a daughter and a son were born. On Sept. 15, 1982, Kathy and James Bowman were united in marriage. Kathy was a housewife for 20 years. She and Jim were foster parents to numerous foster children, three of whom they adopted.
In 2003, Kathy fulfilled her dreams of opening her own diner. With help of her brother, Sam, and daughter, Karri, she opened Kajas, near the Park. She sold the diner in 2006. Kathy worked tirelessly to help establish Lia House and Arc of Hope Women and Children’s Shelter.
She was a member of the Church of God (Holiness).
Kathy married Lloyd Stone, Nov. 17, 2008.
She was preceded in death by her newborn daughter, Kimberly Diane Rodgers, in 1977; her husband of 16 years, James Bowman, in 1999; her beloved grandson, Alex Boonyakiti, in 2010; her parents, Leck and Antonio Hamilton; and her brothers, Charles Hamilton and Don Hamilton.
Kathy is survived by her husband, Lloyd; her children – Karri Vickers and Justin, and Adam Rodgers and Ashley – El Dorado Springs; James Bowman, and Skye – Hopkinsville, KY, Sara Bowman – Springfield; and Jacob Bowman – of the home; her beloved grandchildren – Michael Boonyakiti, Chance Bain and Avery Rodgers; her brothers, Ed Hamilton and Barb – Wareton, NJ, Kenneth Hamilton, Byron Hamilton and Peggy, Sam Hamilton and Diane, Phil Hamilton and Jeanette, and Lennie Hamilton – all of El Dorado Springs, and Paul Hamilton and Mary – Warsaw; her sisters – Hazel Lesmeister and Don – Butler, Alice Fuller and Ron – San Antonia, TX, Mary Johnson – Carl Junction, and Marjorie Hamilton – El Dorado Springs; a sister-in-law, Romaine Hamilton – Grand Junction, CO; two aunts, Elsie Hamilton – Caplinger Mills and Edith Hamilton – Columbia; numerous foster children, nieces, nephews and cousins.
Services will begin at 10 a.m. Thursday, Sept. 23, in the Church of God (Holiness) El Dorado Springs with burial in the Hackleman Cemetery under the direction of the Sheldon Funeral Home, El Dorado Springs.
The family will receive friends in the funeral home from 7-8 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 22.
Arrangements by Sheldon Funeral Home in El Dorado Springs.
