The Life of Clifton C. Bowles, Jr.

Sunrise began on August 4, 1923 and sunset was at 12:30 p.m. December 2, 2011 in Paducah at his residence. Clifton C. Bowles, Jr. (whose actual name was Christopher Clifton Bowles) was born in Paducah, KY to the late Clifton C. Bowles, Sr. and Georgia Mae Archer Bowles Lett. He was preceded in death by maternal grandparents Joe Archer and Delie Enoch Archer, two sisters, Goline Bowles and Jean Marvis Bowles Graham; and two aunts three uncles.

Cliff confessed a hope in Christ at an early age at Cumberland Presbyterian Church which is now Enoch Chapel Cumberland Presbyterian Church. (The church was named after his maternal great grandmother who organized the church.) He later united by baptism with Washington Street Missionary Baptist Church. He was an active for 42 years until his health declined. He sang in the choir and faithfully served as a deacon until his health declined.

Cliff received his education from the Paducah City Schools, graduating from Lincoln High School. He received his mortuary science education from Worsham College of Mortuary Science in Chicago, Illinois where he resided with his maternal aunt Angie Chappell while attending mortuary school. Cliff was a funeral director and licensed embalmer in the states of Illinois and Kentucky (License #2836 – Serial #1039). He began his career with Hamock Funeral Home in 1949 and was co-owner of the former Hamock-Bowles Funeral Home where he remained until his retirement in 2003. He was a member of the Kentucky Association of Morticians, Inc.

Cliff entered into the Pride of Paducah Lodge #92 in 1947 and held the office of Junior Deacon and Secretary. In 1973 the Pride of Paducah Lodge #92 and Stone Square Lodge #5 merged into one Lodge, Stone Square Lodge #5. Upon completion of the merger, Cliff served as Treasure to Stone Square Lodge #5 and held the office of Treasurer for 40 years. Cliff was placed in charge of the Disinterment and Interment Permit when Stone Square decided to sell a portion of the cemetery, located in Lone Oak, Kentucky. He was a member of Paducah Consistory #92 where he also held the office of Treasurer for over 30 years and on October 14, 1985 in Washington, D. C., Cliff was elevated to Grand Inspector General of the 33? Degree Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite Masons. He was also a member of Balkis Temple #157. Cliff has truly been an asset to the Masonic Family over the past 64 years with his dedicated service to the organization.

Clifton C. Bowles, Jr. was commissioned a Kentucky Colonel by Governor Julian Carroll on September 13, 1976.

Those to cherish his memory are:
Two nephews, Reverend CliftonL. (Carla) Graham and Ronald L. Graham; two nieces, Karla M. Graham and Cheryl D. (David) Cammack, all of St. Louis, MO; other great-nieces and great-nephews, and several cousins, including Clifton Lee Chappell, Dallas, TX; devoted friend, William Anderson, Paducah, KY; lifelong friends, Charles Elmo Polk, St. Thomas Island, and Almeta Hunt, Paducah, KY; other relatives, friends and caregivers.