On Saturday, September 19, 2020, Thomas (Tom) Coye Bowen, aka "Papa Coye", loving husband and father, passed away at the age of 82.

Mr. Bowen was born on July 9, 1938 in Ware County, GA to John S. and Mamie (Youmans) Bowen. He graduated from Pierce County High School in 1956, proudly enlisting immediately in the United States Army where he served three years in the Army Security Agency, the Army's intelligence arm, reporting directly to the National Security Agency in Washington, D.C.   After an honorable discharge, he worked for 18 years in sales and sales management with Independent Life and Accident Insurance Company and continued to work in the Insurance Industry until time of his passing.

Mr. Bowen married in 1959, becoming the proud father of three children and re-married in 2005, adding two more children to his now blended family.

Tom had a passion for tractors and loved gardening, fishing, traveling, and camping. He was known as a devoted husband, a good father and grandfather, a kind, generous, and spiritual person.  Most of all, he loved his family unconditionally.

Mr. Bowen was preceded in death by his parents, John and Mamie, his daughter, Cindy, granddaughter, Megan, grandson, Levi, brothers, Eugene, Sam, and Royce Bowen as well as [former] wife, Sandra. He is survived by his wife Shelba (Moore-Mullis), brother, John E. Bowen, better known as "Buddy" (Jean), his sister, Dale Lee (Joe), sister-in-law, Sue Bowen, his two sons, Tommy (Michelle) and Christopher (Adam), two grandsons, J. T. Atwell (Nicole) and Andrew Bowen (Lindsay), and two great children, William and Abigail Atwell as well as, from his blended family, a son Rickie Mullis, a daughter, Rhonda Mullis-Herndon, three grandsons, Ryan Mullis, Justin (Michelle) Mullis, Craig (Rikki) Herndon, 1 granddaughter, Brooke Miller (Erik), eight great grandchildren and two great-great grandchildren in addition to many well-loved nieces and nephews and their families.

A graveside funeral service will be held on Wednesday, September 23rd, 2020 at the Waters Cemetery, 2791 Midway Church Road, Blackshear, GA at 2 o'clock p.m. with a private family viewing prior to the service at 10 o'clock am, Crosby Funeral Home, 207 W. 12 ^th Street, Alma, Ga.  Flowers may be received at Crosby Funeral Home before the family viewing or sent to the cemetery prior to the graveside service.  In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to First Baptist Church, 301 W. 9 ^th Street, Alma, GA 31510 or to St. Jude's Hospital (for Amris Bedford), 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, TN 38105.

Safe social distancing practices are encouraged by all who attend services.