Dacus Paul Bowles
A Celebration of Life for Dacus Paul Bowles, 38, Odessa, Missouri, formerly of West Plains, will be held from 1:00 until 4:00 p.m., Saturday, October 21, 2023, at Dawt Mill, Tecumseh, Missouri.
Dacus was born in Hershey, Pennsylvania where we lived in the shadow of the hospital on Med Center grounds. He was a highly prized first son to Judy and Richard and an automatic plaything and companion for curious active gentle older sister Jolene. From Hershey the family of four migrated to West Plains, Missouri where they were in due course joined by two more roly-poly baby boys and the family entered what to Dacus was a fine ole time. The Kidpowers were complete. They had each other, the outdoors, friends, trampolines, stock tank pools, blob pools, rivers, cliffs, good schools and zip lines. More than once looking back Dacus was heard to say, “Whatever else happens you can never say we didn’t have a great childhood.”
When he left West Plains it was to play football for William Jewell College in Liberty, Missouri after being all state in high school. He ended his football career after injury and was recruited to the cheer squad. He was dismissed from college for grades but fought back and graduated in Jewell’s Scottish tradition the same day as his cousin Kate with a Theater major. His ability to memorize Shakespeare was unparalleled. For a semester he was hired as Professor of Ballroom Dance at Jewell. Oh to see him dance again. At a college function in Kansas City when a waltz started to play he approached an unsuspecting wall flower, bowed and extended his hand. “No I can’t dance,” she demurred. “Can you follow…” his goodwill eyes aglow and his friendly graceful hand expectantly cradling hers. Off they glided, round and round the dance floor. Like pros.
He became a steady school sub in the greater Kansas City area and lived in Lexington, Missouri. His Penmac employer called Dacus their best. “Everyone wanted Dacus, including the students.” He became a self-styled musician specializing in Irish shanties.
Only Justin Brill could make a deer hunter out of Dacus. Dacus leaves behind his crippled pet squirrel Littlefellow whom he rescued from the roadside two years ago and who loved to ball up in any of Dacus’s places.
Dacus loved the huge family reunions at Windermere on Lake of the Ozarks. He was THE most popular attendee year in and year out. The big reason being that all the siblings, cousins, aunts and uncles wanted The Dacus to blob them. Even Great Aunt Mary Lou.
Among Dacus’s biggest heroes and influences were his grandfathers, Delano Robertson and Richard Bowles Sr. He shared Jewell football and ballroom dancing so meaningfully with Richard Sr. Of all the people with whom Dacus came into contact on this earth, Delano is the one to whom he could relate the best. Though they started far apart on the political spectrum, they were getting closer.
It was difficult to know precisely how deeply Dacus felt. When he was four he was looking at a medical journal and kept asking, “What’s this?” He turned the last page and looked unsatisfied. Then with all the innocent curiosity of youth, “Show me a picture of the feelings.”
He kept a calm non-aggressive demeanor to a fault. It is hard to overstate how much he cherished his friends. What he enjoyed the very most was being with Jolene, Beau, and Del, and in more recent years, niece Daisy and Jolene’s Daniel.
Good bye Dacus. You know we love you.
Arrangements under the direction of Robertson-Drago Funeral Home.
Dennis and Ruth Warren
October 18, 2023 @ 11:15 am
We are so very sorry for your loss. May your wonderful memories comfort you during this difficult time. You are in our thoughts and prayers.
Anita and Larry Peoples
October 18, 2023 @ 2:06 pm
So sorry for your loss. Our thoughts and prayers are with you.
Paula Sharp
October 18, 2023 @ 10:08 pm
Dr Bowles, Ms Sue and family,
We’re so sad to hear about your loss.
Please accept our condolence and know you’re in our prayers. May the Holy Spirit envelope each of you in Jesus love.
Paula Sharp
Steve & Melonie Bunn
Randall and Teresa Romans
October 18, 2023 @ 11:57 am
Bowles family, out most sincere condolences to you all.
Vesta Dunn
October 18, 2023 @ 6:05 pm
So very sorry for your loss. May the memories bring smiles, may God wrap his arms around you all and give peace and comfort.
Janet Parker
October 19, 2023 @ 6:20 pm
Dr. Bowles,
You and your family are in my thoughts and prayers. I am proud to have known him, and I am so sorry for your loss.
Susa,n Barton
October 20, 2023 @ 7:36 pm
So very sorry for the loss of this nice youngman. Prayers for peace and comfort for all of you. May God bless you a,ND keep you.
Brent and Denise Lidgard
October 18, 2023 @ 7:43 pm
We are so very sorry for your loss. Our thoughts and prayers are with you during this difficult time. May God bless you all during the days ahead!
Laura Pendergrass
October 19, 2023 @ 6:30 am
So sorry for your loss. Prayers for your family. Ms. Ernestine Cochran thought Doctor Bowles hung the moon. We lost her a few years ago.
Laura Pendergrass
October 19, 2023 @ 6:33 am
So sorry for your loss. Prayers for your family.
Carrie Patillo Thompson
October 19, 2023 @ 12:52 pm
Dr Bowles, so terribly sorry for your family’s loss. Can’t imagine the pain. We will have all of you in our prayers.
Lanny and Dee Lewis
October 19, 2023 @ 6:50 am
My heart truly breaks for your loss of this sweet young man (boy) to me. He was a delight to be around. I always enjoyed him in choir plays etc while at WPHS. I pray for comfort and you cherish those wonderful moments shared. You will see him another day
Colleen Hensley
October 19, 2023 @ 10:16 am
Dr. Bowles and Family
I was so sad to hear of your families loss of Dacus. His tribute revealed he touched many lives and I know you were proud of him. Please accept my heartfelt sympathy.
Kathleen Geery
October 19, 2023 @ 12:38 pm
Beautifully written. What a wonderful tribute to Dacus, and Richard and Judy, Jolene, Beau and Del. It’s true, Dacus was so loved. I’m blessed our families were close during our kids’ childhoods. We will miss Dacus greatly and will forever pray for the comfort of all the loved ones left behind. Until we meet again…
Love, Kathleen Geery
David Moore
October 19, 2023 @ 12:39 pm
I too feel a loss even though I haven’t seen Dacus in many years. The Bowles kids and ours spent many happy hours together, and my heart goes out to the whole family.
Jennifer and William and Ashley Romans
October 19, 2023 @ 6:42 pm
Dr B we are so sorry for your loss. May his memory be a blessing.
Rufina
October 19, 2023 @ 10:27 pm
So sorry for your loss. Prayers for comfort. I cannot imagine your pain.
Sandi McKnight
October 20, 2023 @ 2:18 am
We are so sorry for your loss. We will be praying for the entire family as you travel this journey.
Amber L Trautman
October 20, 2023 @ 9:33 am
Dr. Bowles, Judy and family, we are so saddened by your loss and the life lost too soon. Our thoughts and prayers are with you. Bob and Amber Trautman
Lunn, Evans, Walker
October 21, 2023 @ 10:33 am
Dr. Bowles and family: We can not express in words how deeply we grieve for your loss. Please accept our sympathy and know that you are in our hearts, thoughts and prayers.
Patricia, Freda, Veda Lunn, Darren Evans and Mary Walker
Lela Lemieux W
October 21, 2023 @ 2:51 pm
We are so sorry for your loss! Thinking about you all. Love and prayers
Wendy Dunkin
October 21, 2023 @ 8:03 pm
Prayers for your family, have some great memories of Dacus as he and My Michael grew up going to school together, we enjoyed some awesome football games! He was such a great kid and grew up to be a great young man? my heart breaks for you all!
Becky Galambos
October 21, 2023 @ 11:00 pm
I’m so sorry for your loss. Dacus was one of the finest people I met in my time at Jewell, and we shared many conversations and fun times in the theatre department. My condolences to his family and friends.
Cynthia Rene Eckenrode
October 22, 2023 @ 10:32 pm
My deepest heartfelt condolences to the Bowles family. What a great tribute to Dacus. He was a kind soul and will be missed by many. You will all be in my prayers in the difficult days to come.
Crockett Oaks III
October 25, 2023 @ 8:36 am
Our continued thoughts and prayers are with the Bowles Family, heartfelt condolences, Rest in Peace Dacus…
Stephen Coats
October 26, 2023 @ 6:46 pm
Richard, Betty and I were very sorry to hear about Dacus’s passing. We were out of town that weekend of the visitation at Dawt Mill but would have been there but for another obligation. We have 6 children including 5 boys. I can’t imagine the pain I would feel if I lost one of those children. You and Sue are invited anytime to come over for a visit. Your neighbor, Steve and Betty Coats