It is with great sadness we announce the passing of Mary Margaret “Jean” Bowley (née Cardno) on 4 February 2019. Jean was born 17 May 1926 in Salem, the youngest daughter of Robert Davidson Cardno and Alice Johnston. At an early age the family relocated to the corner of Princess and David Street in Elora. Jean received her nickname in honour of her aunt Jean, a younger sister of her father. She went by the name Jean throughout her life; her given name, Mary Margaret, was reserved for times she either needed to be scolded or to use her passport. Jean worked as an office manager for Metropolitan Life for many years at their Toronto office, and later at their Kingston office. She was a world traveller and vacationed in a wide array of destinations including Hawaii, Arizona, Bermuda, the UK, Italy, and Nigeria. She also enjoyed bowling, both five pin and lawn, and following the Guelph hockey team—then known as the Biltmores. One memorable moment for Jean and a long-time friend, Gladys Sheard (née White), was sitting beside Conn and Stafford Smythe in Guelph Memorial Gardens watching the Biltmores beat that dubious team called the Toronto Marlboros. Concurrent with her freedom fifty-five retirement she married Robert Bowley 15 May 1981 and they enjoyed over 34 years together at their Lot 18 house in Nichol, summers at their 2u’s 4e’s cottage in Wasaga, and travelling within Canada and the US. Jean was predeceased by her husband Robert (2016) and her sisters Audrey (Melvin Turner), Dorothy (Norman Wright), and Irene (Robert Bowley). Fondly remembered by Stephen (Patricia) of Kincardine, Ken (Janet) of Fergus, and Rob (Patricia) of Guelph, grandchildren Joshua, Chris, Kevin, Claire, Tyler, Michael, Matthew, and Sean, and her “Cardno” nieces and nephew: Carolyn, Val, Dave, the late Margaret, Edie, Marion, and Bev. An inurnment at the Elora Cemetery will be held on Friday, May 17th, 2019 at 11:00am. A special thank you to the supportive and caring staff of Heritage River and of Wellington Terrace over these many years. As expressions of sympathy, donations can be made to Groves Hospital Foundation. Arrangements entrusted to the Graham A. Giddy Funeral Home, Fergus.
www.grahamgiddyfh.com