Alma Ruth Bower, 87, passed away Saturday, November 7, 2009 at home after a long bout with cancer, surrounded by her family. Alma was born February 25, 1922 in Fountain Bluff Township, Jackson County Illinois. She was one of thirteen children born to Louis and Belle (Davis) Gale. Having grown up in "the Bottoms" she survived the Great Depression, floods, tornados, and the loss of her Mother at an early age. Alma graduated Gorham High School in 1940. One of her first interests in life was nursing. She worked at the old St. Andrews Hospital in Murphysboro and at Koch T.B. Hospital in St Louis shortly before WWII began, but was dissuaded from going to nursing school by her father who feared she would be taken to serve in that war. Instead she worked for Small Arms/U.S. Cartridge in St Louis during the war. Afterwards she went to work at Emerson Electric in St Louis in Payroll/Timekeeping as she had a knack for honesty and numbers. On June 25, 1955 she married Edward C Bower Sr. at St Agatha's Catholic Church in New Athens Illinois. At that time she was living in Marissa Illinois taking care of her aging father. Her father died the following September, 1955. She then traveled with her husband, covering ten States as he worked on the Missouri Pacific Railroad. In the late 1950s she returned to her home area in Jackson County Illinois where she and her husband began life at the foot of Buttermilk Hill. They raised three children, Edward C., Gail Renee, and Deborah Sue, and collected a myriad of stray, strange and exotic as well as farm animals. As a devoted Catholic she was extremely active at St Ann's Catholic Church in Raddle until her health and age took its toll. Alma retired from Gilster/Mary Lee - Steeleville in August 1989. Alma was preceded in death by her parents, brothers John, Henry "Jade", Charles, Clyde, Ken, Ralph, Lee and Wayne as well as her sisters Sophia, Mabel, and Annabell. Her husband Ed, died in 2008. She is survived by one sister, Ellouise Mueller, of St Louis, son Edward and daughter-in-law Kathy of Murphysboro and two daughters, Gail Atherton of Farmington, Missouri and Sue Williams and fiance Joe Stowers of DuQuoin Illinois, along with a host of Nieces, Nephews, Grand and Great-Grandchildren, and her special Sister-In-Law, Esther Bower, of Ava. Although she loved all her Grand and Great-Grandchildren the two youngest, Gabriel and Ayla, whom she saw the most, always brought a twinkle to her failing eyes. Visitation will be from 6 to 8 pm, on Wednesday at Wilson's Funeral Home in Ava, with the rosary being recited at 8 pm and on Thursday at Wilson's Funeral Home from 7:30 am until 9:45 am followed by Services at 10:30 am on Thursday, November 12, 2009 at St Ann's Catholic Church in Raddle with Father Leo J. Hayes officiating. Internment will be at Ava Evergreen Cemetery. Special thanks to VNA TIP HOSPICE Murphysboro and its Purple Team where memorials may be given to as well as to the American Cancer Society. Alma lived a long and good life under a variety of adverse conditions. She always made the best of things, never materially wealthy but rich in Spirit. May her heavenly reward be as rich as she deserves.