Eric Mowris
7 years ago
We've been told this is long as published obituaries go. But we feel it's worth it if even a few readers are inspired by our mother's life and the admirable qualities she brought to the living of it.
Obituary Published Sunday, February 5, 2017
Helen Anna Hermann Mowris
Mrs. Helen Anna Hermann Mowris died in the early morning hours of Monday, January 30, 2017. She was 93.
Mrs. Mowris lived in the Atlanta area for 21 years. After the death of her late husband, George W. Mowris (Major, USAF, Ret) in October 1995, she moved from Orlando, FL to Atlanta to be closer to the rest of her immediate family. Mrs. Mowris was born in St. Louis, MO in 1923.
After finishing eighth grade in St. Louis, Mrs. Mowris trained for work as a secretary and was employed in that capacity for several years at a pickle packing plant. She worked in a variety of clerical positions prior to marrying George W. Mowris on May 1, 1946. George and Helen were married for 49 years. The couple had two sons, Eric R. Mowris and Gregory W. Mowris.
Major Mowris was a career officer in the United States Air Force. Because the military life requires frequent moves, the Mowris family lived in a variety of places in America and Europe. This was a true source of delight to Helen, as she loved to travel and experience new places and cultures. During George's active duty career, Mrs. Mowris regularly served as a volunteer in Air Force base hospitals, a service she enthusiastically resumed at Emory Adventist Hospital in Smyrna, GA when she was in her seventies.
After Major Mowris retired from the Air Force, the family settled in Orlando, FL. At this point, Helen resumed her education, earning her GED and then an Associate Degree at Valencia Junior College in Orlando. After earning her degree, she worked for many years as a medical secretary for an Orlando pediatrician and then in administration for SunTrust Bank in Orlando. During the last few years of her husband's life, she devoted herself to being his primary caregiver, providing a living example to her children and grandchildren of what it means to be selfless, kind, and compassionate without complaint.
Mrs. Mowris enjoyed a lifelong love of reading, theatre, music, dancing and, especially, traveling. In addition to the seven Air Force bases on which she lived throughout the eastern United States and Germany, she was blessed to travel with different family members to Hawaii and Alaska. While living in Germany for two-and-a-half years, she visited Austria, England, Italy, Luxembourg, and Switzerland. One of the highlights of her travels was returning to America from Germany on the S.S. United States - and having the family's travel orders upgraded at the dock, just prior to sailing, to First Class. It was quite a memorable trip for all four of the Mowris family members.
Mrs. Mowris lived an active and enriching life, full of love and care for and from her family, full of delightful surprises, and full of the love of God who blessed her days with courage, determination and the greatness of her generation to welcome each day as a gift.
Helen is survived by her two sons and their families. These are Eric and Cheryl Mowris and their children and grandchildren Philip Mowris and partner Penny Wagner, Philip's son Ransom Mowris and Ransom's mother Kitty Bundy, Elisabeth Mowris Deeter and partner Jude Monica, Kevin and Lennie Gray Mowris, and Brian and Miriam Mowris and their children Victoria Mowris, Sebastian Vincent, Seva Mowris, Lili Mowris, and Elsa Mowris; Greg and Julie Mowris and their daughters Savana Mowris and Keely Mowris. Helen is also survived by her brother Bob Hermann and his wife Patricia, by her nephew Mike Ross and his wife Terry, and by many loving in-laws, nieces, nephews and a host of long-time friends.
A memorial service will be held 3:00 p.m. Sunday, February 12th at Northwest Presbyterian Church, 4300 Northside Drive NW, Atlanta, GA 30342.
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