Larry Wayne Bowen

Larry Wayne Bowen passed from this life to his heavenly home on Friday, April 5, 2024, at the age of 84, holding his wife’s and his grandson’s hands.  He was born on November 22, 1939, on the Little Dixie Plantation to Muriel Bowen.   And at the age of one he was adopted and raised by his aunt and uncle, Ray and Velda Bowen of Floral, AR.

He said “life was tough back then, but I hold no hard feelings toward anyone.  Sometimes things happen that can’t be changed-forgiveness is the best medicine.  That’s what I’ve lived by.”  The Bible says in Matthew 6:15 “But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.”

During his lifetime Larry had many jobs including district manager for Farmers Insurance but in the mid 70’s he found the business that he loved – a friend introduced him to driving a truck and soon he owned his own truck and went on to build a very successful trucking/brokerage business hauling air freight and produce coast to coast.

On Labor Day 1978 he met Karen James at C & L Trucking.  That began their business relationship, which soon grew to a personal one and on December 7, 1984, they were married.  They ran their trucking and brokerage company together.  Horse racing was also a passion of Larry’s and he soon hooked Karen on it too.   For 18 years he never missed the first day of Oaklawn Racing Season.  They bought a small farm in 1986 and soon added Thoroughbred horses to their cattle business and enjoyed working with the babies and getting them ready to send off to the track.  They enjoyed many victories and some defeats on the racetrack, but it was a great time for them watching their horses run and breeding up their line of blue roan cattle on their farm.

After Larry retired in 2004 from the trucking industry he couldn’t sit still because he had been working since he was 9 years old so he bought another tractor and another cutter and he and Karen hit the fields doing custom hay baling.  After his 2^nd heart attack and surgery in 2017 he retired completely, and they sold their farms.

In his later years he devoted his life to Jesus Christ and was a devout Christian and a member of Pleasant Plains Assembly of God.   On June 21, 2011, Larry was baptized and counted that the greatest day of his life.  His only regret was that he waited so long to do it.

He is survived by his devoted wife, Karen.   Sister Betty and husband Larry Sharp of Concord, AR; brothers, Michael Hawley of Wofford Heights, CA, Bobby Hawley of San Diego, CA, Jerry and wife Mary Bowen of Southside, AR; Johnny Wallace and wife Joy of Missouri; Gary Wallace and wife Velma of Tennessee; Ronnie Wallace of California.  Sister-in-law Barbara Lewis of Higginson, AR, granddaughter Miles Kueffner of Dallas, TX; grandson Cy Kueffner of Memphis, TN; His survivors include many nieces, nephews, cousins and dear friends; and estranged children Marcy Kueffner and Marty Bowen.

He was preceded in death by his adoptive parents Ray and Velda Bowen, his biological mother and stepfather Muriel and Junior Hawley, his brothers Randy Bowen and Ricky Bowen, sister Patsy Simmons, brother Bill Wallace, his father and mother-in-law Loran and Geraldine James and brother-in-law Gary Smothers.

Larry will be deeply missed by all who loved him but especially his wife, Karen.

Visitation will be held at Searcy McEuen Funeral Home in Searcy, AR on Thursday, April 11, 2024 from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m.  A funeral service celebrating Larry’s life will also be held at Searcy McEuen on Friday, April 12, 2024 at 2:00 p.m. with burial following at Dogwood Cemetery in Griffithville, AR.   www.searcymceuenfuneralhome.com