SOUTHWEST HARBOR Kathleen Goodman Bowman, 85, artist, teacher and mentor, died peacefully Aug. 22, 2006. Kathleen Bowman was born Dec. 14, 1920, in Benton, Ark., to Leonard Sims and Preston Georgia (Finley) Goodman. Kathleen often remarked that she was born the year that women got the vote, an event she claimed occurred in anticipation of her arrival. She studied art and music through-out her childhood and, while still a teen, began several years of work as a commercial artist for various advertising agencies and newspapers in Little Rock, Ark. On Oct. 31, 1942, she married George William Bowman, a doctoral student from Indiana who was stationed at Fort Chaffee. Their first child, Kathy was born in 1944 shortly after George shipped out to New Guinea, for a two-year assignment as an Army hospital administrator during World War II. In 1946 the family settled in Wilmington, Ohio, where George had been hired as chairman of the English Department at Wilmington College. During their 23 years in Ohio, Kathleen and George had two more children, Leonard William and Robert. Throughout the 1950s and 60s, as Kathleen continued to pursue her interest in watercolor painting and other arts, she also became active in social and political causes, particularly in local civil rights and child welfare issues. In 1966 visiting Maine after the death of their son, Bill, George and Kathleen began a joyful relationship with the island of Islesford, Little Cranberry. They moved to Maine permanently in 1969 when George took a position at the University of Maine – Presque Isle. Kathleen’s art flourished there, and she exhibited her paintings in numerous group and one-man shows. During those years, she also developed an interest in the fiber arts, eventually teaching spinning and weaving at the University. Upon George’s retirement in 1980, the couple made Islesford their year-round home. Kathleen built a studio there and for a dozen years operated, a production weaving shop, Heirloom Weavers; featuring her own fabric and clothing designs. After their move to Southwest Harbor and George’s death in 1994, Kathleen sustained her spirit through art – particularly the fiber arts – and good friends. She was an inspiration, teacher and mentor to hundreds of handspinners, knitters and weavers, especially her dear longtime friends in the Wednesday Spinners, and Acadia Spinners, a group she founded in her 80s. She is loved and missed. Kathleen leaves a daughter, Kathy Lauder and son-in-law, Mike Slate, of Nashville, Tenn.; son, Bob and daughter-in-law, Cate, of Somesville; grandsons, Chris Gamble and his wife, Christine, of Maryland and David Gamble of California; and two great-grandsons, Nicholas and George Gamble of Maryland. At Kathleen’s request, no public service will be held. The family deeply appreciates the support and love of the friends and communities she touched, who will remember her in their own way. Interment will be in Islesford. The family suggests that donations in Kathleen’s name be made to the Southwest Harbor Medical Center, care of Dr. Thomas Adams, P.O. Box 786, Southwest Harbor, ME 04679. Arrangements are by Jordan-Fernald, 1139 Main St., Mount Desert.
KATHLEEN GOODMAN BOWMAN
