Jack Ray Bowen

Jack Ray Bowen, 64, passed away unexpectedly, but peacefully in his sleep at his home near Callahan on Aug. 14, 2018. Jack loved to work and had lived a near-perfect day of raking, baling and stacking hay. He was quite pleased with the gorgeous green grass hay that he and Paul Sweezey had baled the previous evening. Jack was born on March 2, 1954, in Redding, California, to Patsy Jean Lee and Raymond Crowder. As a young child, he lived in Cottonwood, California, then after his parents divorced, his mother and stepfather, Byno Wayne Bowen, lived and worked at Viola on Mt. Lassen. When Byno, known as Pinky, obtained a job at the Crowe Hereford Ranch in Millville, California, Jack began learning about ranch work by tagging along with Pinky. In 1967, the family moved to Noyes Valley ranch, owned by Ed Merlo, in Siskiyou County. Jack and his siblings began attending Etna schools. He became active in FFA, showing cattle and sheep, participating in judging contests and serving in several offices, including president of the Etna FFA chapter. Before graduating from Etna High School in 1972, he also attended the FFA National Convention in Kansas City, Missouri, and visited Washington, D.C. He won Grand Champion Steer with his Hereford “Howey” and won Round Robin Showmanship trophies at the Siskiyou Golden Fair in Yreka. Jack attended Shasta Jr. College and on June 15, 1974, married Elizabeth Ann Dillman in Etna. He soon worked for Neil Thomas, who managed John Beckman’s ranch near Etna. Then he went to work for Budd and Dorris Moore Polled Herefords, in Cottonwood, and within a few years was named manager of Moore’s multiple ranches in Cottonwood. In 1981, June Sweezey asked Jack to manage Rancho del Sol’s purebred Hereford and commercial herds, so he moved his family of Liz and two sons, Branden and Justin, to Scott Valley. He loved preparing and showing cattle for fairs and bull sales. Reno’s Nugget Bull and Heifer Sale was a highlight each year. In the 1990s, Jack went into partnership with Kip and Keith Whipple in Scott Valley raising hay, and he built a feed yard to feed-out calves, young bulls and dairy heifers. In his later years, Jack changed his occupation and began working for Bob Johnson and then for Hat Creek Construction near Burney. He quickly grew to love operating excavators and bull dozers – and would no longer operate a backhoe! As life tends to come full circle, Jack was back working part time for Rancho del Sol near Etna. He and good friend, Tim McNames, first worked there when they were in high school nearly 50 years ago. Jack loved the ranch and the Sweezey family. Jack was preceded in death by his parents, Patsy Jean Bowen, Pinky Bowen and Raymond Crowder; his brother, Donald Ray Bowen (Leane); and sister, Gail Etta Stout. He is survived by his wife, Liz Bowen; sons Branden (Christy) Bowen and Justin (Joni) Bowen; grandchildren, Kylie, Bryce, Colton, Alexis, Jack, Mason and Cassidy Bowen; his sisters, Darlene Carroll (Dale) and Sara Bowen; his Uncle Charlie Crowder; Aunt Jeanette Crowder; and Aunt Gail Hencratt. A celebration of life with a potluck and barbecued beef ribs will be held at the Etna City Park on Friday, Sept. 7, 2018, at noon.

Jack Ray Bowen

March 2, 1954 - August 14, 2018