Helen Irene Bowers, 66, Osawatomie, died Sunday, Aug. 8, 1995, at her home.

She was born Jan. 25, 1929, at Jingo, the daughter of William Jesse and Ruth Hogue Reinhardt McMeins. She grew up in Osawatomie and attended the schools there, graduating from Osawatomie High School with the Class of 1947.

She was married to Raymond Sturtevant Bowers, Jr. in Osawatomie on July 22, 1950. They became the parents of three children.

Besides being a homemaker and active member of her community, she worked as a clerk for the Missouri Pacific Railroad. She had worked ar the Coach Light, a women's apparell store in Osawatomie.

In the 1970s, she and her husband owned and operated the Bride's Showcase in the Corinth Square Shopping Center in Prairie Village. Her husband preceded her in death.

Mrs. Bowers was a member of the Victory Baptist Church of Osawatomie.

Others preceding her in death were her parents, a son, Mark Franklin Bowrs, and two brothers, Phillip Russell and L. L. Russell.

Surviving are her son, Richard Dean Bowers of Osawatomie; a daughter, Ruth Elizabeth VanderWaal of Mission; two brothers, Kenneth McMeins of Tulsa, Okla., and Charles McMeins of St. Charles, Mo.; two sisters, Jean Kelso of Tustin, Calif., and Roberta Brown of Topeka; and three grandchildren.

Services were at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday at the Eddy-Birchard Funeral Home in Osawatomie. The Rev. William Pingry officiated. He was assisted by the Rev. Glenn Layton and the Rev. Larry Osborne. Ruth Lombard sang 'Beyond the Sunset' and Donna Diediker sang 'Now I Belong to Jesus.' They were accompanied on the organ by Winnie Piper.

Burial was in the Osawatomie Cemetery. Pallbearers were Frank Parker, John Slayman, Melvin Henness, Ted Jones, Bill Lewis and Nelson Madden. Honorary bearers were Jim White, Ken Cummins, Frank Platt and E. L. Thomas.

Memorials have been established in her name to Hospice of Olathe Medical Center or to the Multiple Schlerosis Society.