William Carl Jowers

William Carl Jowers

William Carl Jowers, 69, of Fitzgerald, Ga., died Wednesday, March 24, 2021 at Mercy Hospital in Joplin, Mo., after a battle with COVID-19.

Mr. Jowers was born on Dec. 2, 1951 to the late Betty Sarah Harden Jowers, of Fitzgerald, Ga., and Carl Edison Jowers, of Rhine, Ga. William is a graduate of Fitzgerald High School Class of 1969. William is survived by his former wife Leonida Arboleda Jowers, Calapacuan, Subic Zambales Philippines, who he married in 1974, and their three children, Lars Michael Jowers (Alicia), Justin Leif Jowers, and Sarah Ashley Jowers. He also leaves behind grandchildren Elijah Jordan Jowers, Preston David Jowers, Zoë Isabella Jowers, Lily Leonida Jowers, Sophia Rose Jowers, and William Cardell Norton. In 1995, he married Myra Barco Jowers of Jacksonville, Fla. They have four furry babies, Miller, Kahlua, Rebel and Ebony. William leaves behind two stepchildren, Kevin Pickett (Pamela), their children, and Jennifer Johnson (Michael) and their children.

Carl was a veteran petty officer first class of the United States Navy (1970-1991) of the Vietnam War era. He earned many decorations, such as Vietnam Campaign Ribbon, Navy Achievement Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, Fifth Good Conduct Award, Second Meritorious Unit Commendation, Second Battle E Award, Fourth Overseas Service Ribbon, and Second National Defense Service Medal.

Carl began his postgraduate education while in the Navy, attending a variety of colleges in California and Florida. He earned his master’s degree from Jacksonville University. Following his retiring from the United States Navy, Carl was employed by Florida State College at Jacksonville (formerly FJC, FCCJ) as manager of testing and assessments (1991-2013) and intermittently teaching GED classes before retiring again.

Carl was an avid genealogist who was able to connect to ancestors, through his tireless research, who provided him eligibility for his expressing pride of his Southern heritage by joining the Sons of Confederate Veterans Forest’s Escort Camp 1239 in Villa Rica, Ga. He and his wife, Myra, then purchased a trike so that he could become a member of the Mechanized Cavalry. Following their move to Fort Scott, Kan., he transferred to the Thomas J Key Camp1854 in Kansas City, Kan. With his servant’s heart, he spent most of his retired life giving back to veterans.

Carl was a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Olson-Frary Burkhart Post 1165 in Ft. Scott, Kan., and was currently serving as commander of the American Legion Thompson – Harkey Post 25 in Ft. Scott as well as Kansas District 2 Adjutant. Carl had the unique ability to join all four components of the American Legion family, The Sons of the American Legion, The Legion Riders and the American Legion Auxiliary, which was formerly only open to female spouses of Legionnaires, but recently opened their membership to spouses of veterans who are Legionnaires. He earned his eligibility through his wife, Myra, being an Air Force veteran and Legionnaire.

Carl will be dearly missed by his wife of 25 years, family, friends, brother and sisters in arms, and his pets.

Memorial services will be held in Fort Scott, Kan., at the Cheney Witt Funeral Chapel, 201 S. Main St. on Saturday, April 3, 2021 at 1 p.m. and later in his hometown, Fitzgerald, Ga., at Prospect Baptist Church. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to American Legion Thompson – Harkey Post 25, P.O. Box 25, Fort Scott, KS 66701 or his home church, First Southern Baptist Church, Building Fund, 1818 S. Main St., Fort Scott, KS 66701. Donations can be sent to Cheney Witt for distribution. Words of remembrance may be submitted to the online guestbook at cheneywitt.com.