Marilue Bowman Watkins

Marilue Bowman Watkins

Cedar Rapids

Marilue Bowman Watkins, 96, passed away peacefully surrounded by family on February 8, 2025. She was born Mary Louise Bowman in Quinter, Kansas to parents Mary and Louis Bowman on December 17, 1928. As a teenager, she changed her name to a new spelling of “Marilue”. She met the love of her life, Stanley Watkins, at McPherson College in Kansas where she received a B.S. cum laude in Music in 1951. They were married on June 6, 1952, and spent seventy-two loving years together until Stanley passed in September 2024. After teaching music for two years at a middle school in Kansas, she went on to teach private piano lessons and then accompanied or directed church choirs (both youth and adult) for many years. Additionally, she accompanied and supported her children as they both played violin along with countless other youth musicians during their recitals and competitions.

Marilue had a dedication to volunteering and community service in several capacities including the League of Women Voters, six years on the Foster Care Review Boards, and ten years as co-chair of the Sunday Evening Meals Program at First Presbyterian Church in Cedar Rapids. She was also a pre-school teacher at Jane Boyd Community House and a member of their board for several years. With Stanley’s long career spent at Coe College, Marilue’s spare time was also dedicated to Coe College’s affiliated groups including the book club, gourmet group, and helped to start the investment club, Agatha Crumm. Marilue was employed for ten years as a Nursing Lab Coordinator at Mount Mercy College, from which she retired in 1981. She was an Iowa State Fair award winner for her quilting and along with Stanley enjoyed spending time at symphony concerts, traveling (with many international adventures), tending to their beautiful gardens, and time spent with family.

Marilue is preceded in death by her husband, an infant son, parents, sister Phyllis, and brother Winston. Surviving are her son, Kendall (Heather) of Des Moines, daughter, Lynn (Marty) of Lexington, KY, and grandchildren Samantha, Evan, Turner, Mason, brother Larry and sister-in-law Ann Bowman and numerous nieces and nephews.

Marilue donated her body to the Carver College of Medicine at the University of Iowa for continued research. There will be no services. Teahen Funeral Home is caring for Marilue and her family. Family requests any contributions or memorials be sent to Orchestra Iowa (Cedar Rapids Symphony Orchestra) at 119 3rd Ave. SE, Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52401. The family wishes to extend a heartfelt thank-you to the Cottage Grove Place and the St. Croix Hospice staff for their kind and compassionate care they provided.

Online condolences can be left at www.teahenfuneralhome.com.