Caroylea McKnight Bowers

CAROYLEA McKNIGHT BOWERS March 31, 1932 – January 29, 2024 On January 29, 2024, Caroylea McKnight Bowers, 91, of Knoxville, TN went into the arms of her Lord while surrounded by family. Her sense of humor and wit was present in her response when she learned her pending departure from this world was only a few days away - “Everyone wants to go to heaven but no one wants to get on the bus.” Caroylea was born in Sebring, FL on March 31, 1932 and graduated from Oak Ridge High School in 1950. She was employed at the Y-12 Nuclear Plant from 1954-1957 and then for the next 17 years was a stay-at-home mom. After raising her four children she worked for 35 years at McClure Realty. Caroylea’s passions were her husband, Leonard, of 65 years, four children, nine grandchildren and five great grandchildren. Caroylea had a positive impact on the lives of hundreds of children growing up in the Cumberland Estates area as she supported her husband’s coaching efforts in baseball, softball and basketball. Caroylea and her husband were members of Wallace Memorial Baptist Church, Grace Baptist Church and charter members of Cumberland Baptist Church. In the 1970’s, while attending Grace Baptist, she co-founded the Golden Harvesters Senior Citizens Program which 50 years later is still active and now known as the Legacy Program. Caroylea is survived by sons, Jim Bowers and Tim Bowers (wife - Jackie); daughters, Linda McCoig (husband - Brian) and Lisa Cox; grandchildren, Caitlin Bowers King (husband- Michael), Brendan Bowers (wife - Miranda), Riley Bowers, Carmen Bowers, Devin Bowers, Weston Bowers, Kendra McCoig, Thomas “T.J.” McCoig and Adler Cox; five great grandchildren, Hudson King, Parker King, Everly King, Colton King and Ruby Grace Bowers; and many special nieces and nephews. Caroylea is preceded in death by her husband, Leonard; parents, Ralph and Inez McKnight; brothers/spouses - Roy and Francis McKnight, Joseph and Judy McKnight and Harry and Anne McKnight; sisters/spouses, Ella Mae and Charles Hammett, Ruth and Wayne Noe. Brothers-in-law/sisters-in-law, Kenneth and April Bowers, Helen Isabell; son-in law, Michael Cox; nephews, Don McKnight and Charles McKnight; niece Inez McKnight; great nephews, Adam McKnight and Coger Robertson. The Bowers family will receive friends on Monday, February 5th from 4:30 PM to 6:30 PM at Rose Funeral & Cremation Broadway Chapel, 1421 N. Broadway, Knoxville, TN. A Celebration of Life service, conducted by Rev. Bob Brown, will immediately follow at 6:30 pm. The grave-side service will be Tuesday, February 6th, 10:00 AM, at the East Tennessee State Veterans Cemetery, 2200 E. Governor John Sevier Highway, Knoxville, TN with grandsons serving as pallbearers. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the Sacred Ground Hospice House. Caroylea also requested you give someone a big smile, a hug and remind them: “This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it”. The family would like to extend a special thanks to Autumn Care Assisted Living and Sacred Ground Hospice for their care and support. Online obituary and guest register are available at www.rosefuneraltn.com.

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Caroylea McKnight Bowers

March 31, 1932 - January 29, 2024