To request a copy of this photo for your own personal use, please contact our state coordinator. If you are not a family member or the original photographer — please refrain from copying or distributing this photo to other websites.
Thank you for visiting the Arkansas Gravestone Photo Project. On this site you can upload gravestone photos, locate ancestors and perform genealogy research. If you have a relative buried in Arkansas, we encourage you to upload a digital image using our Submit a Photo page. Contributing to this genealogy archive helps family historians and genealogy researchers locate their relatives and complete their family tree.
Submitted: 10/25/09 • Approved: 2/3/12 • Last Updated: 8/7/12 • R250873-G0-S3
Born April 4, 1937, Baxter County, Arkansas.
Died December 22, 1983, Culp, Baxter County, Arkansas.
Son of George Preston Bowman & Mary Jane Tilley Bowman.
Paul Ray Bowman drowned while trying to rescue a calf from a frozen pond near Culp, Baxter County, Arkansas.
The Baxter Bulletin
December 26, 1983
An apparent attempt to rescue a calf proved fatal for a Baxter County man. Paul Ray Bowman's body was recovered Friday evening from a frozen pond near Culp.
Bowman, 46, worked for Carl Sheid on the Sheid farm south of Norfork.
Sheriff Joe Edmonds said there had been several attempts to contact Bowman Thursday and Friday at the farhouse where he was staying, but no one could reach him. An unsuccessfuly search was conducted for Bowman with the sheriff's department becoming involved in the search about 11 Friday morning, said the sheriff.
Searchers came upon a pond with a calf half out of the frozen water, according to Sheriff Edmonds. Tracks on the frozen pond led to a hole about the size of a man in the ice, which had refrozen, he said.
There were no tracks leading away from the pond, said Sheriff Edmonds.
The sheriff theorized Bowman had tried to rescue the calf from the pond, but fell through the ice and drowned.
To recover Bowman's body the pond was partially drained. Ted Anderson of Drakes Backhoe operated the backhoe used to help drain the pond. Sheriff Edmonds said two trucks with pumpers were sent from the Salesville Fire Department to help in the recovery effort.
When there was about two or three feet of water left in the pond, Sheriff Edmonds said, a small boat was taken out and Bowman's body was recovered about 6:15PM.
Sheriff Edmonds said he wanted to thank all those who helped in the search and recovery in Friday's harsh weather, particularyly Anderson who, because of road conditions, had to drive the backhoe almost 12 miles to get to the pond. He also thanked the Salesville Fire Department.
------------
Paul Ray Bowman, 46, a lifetime resident of Norfork, drowned Thursday in a pond near Culp.
Mr. Bowman, a farmer, was born in Baxter County April 4, 1937. He was never married. He was preceded in death by his father, Preston George Bowman.
Survivors include his mother Mary Jane Tilley Bowman of Norfork; four brothers, Johnnie Miles Bowman, Blevin Eugene Bowman, Howard Wayne Bowman and Jesse Earl Bowman, all of Norfork; and one sister, Betty Bowman Lawson of Calico Rock.
Services were today at Galatia Assembly of God Church in Norfork with the Rev. Gail Wooten officiating. Burial was in Galatia Cemetery at Norfork with Gene White, Tommy Knight, Larry Kelly, Bob Teague, Walter Johnson, David Lonon and Harvey Turner serving as pallbearers. Honorary pallbearers were Lowell Sexton, Buddy Allen, Hugh McLain, Jerry White, Everett Parnell, Gene Alexander, Vero Hall, Cecil Wilbanks, Bud Minen, Paul King, Jim King and Eddie White.
Arrangements were by Kirby and family funeral Directors.
(From the files of Max Parnell.)
(Photo courtesy of Vera Reeves)
Contributed on 10/25/09 by maxparnell
Email This Contributor
Suggest a Correction
Record #: 250873