Audrey "Corkey" Marie Burgess Bowen peacefully entered the presence of the Lord on January 19, 2023, at home surrounded by her loving family.

She was born to the late Coleman and Learon Burgess on February 2, 1934, in Hayward, Missouri.  She was 88 years of age.

Corkey attended school in Hayward, Missouri until transferring to Wardell her junior year in high school.  While in high school, she played softball, basketball, and was a cheerleader.  She also was in the band, received the citizenship award as a senior and was chosen to be one of the students to speak during graduation.

Corkey met her future husband, Phil Bowen, when she was a junior in high school.  They married in the Methodist Church in Hayward on July 28, 1952, the summer after she graduated.  They were married for 70 years and worked together during most of those years.  Being married and working together for as long as they did certainly say something about their commitment and love for one another.

Corkey was fiercely dedicated to her family and the family business.  She was such a strong woman and had so many talents. She was an excellent seamstress and cook, and she had a beautiful singing voice.  Many of her paintings hanging in her home were painted by her.  When she needed to learn how to use a computer spreadsheet, she took an Excel class.  When she faced challenges, she never gave up, whether it was helping to oversee the rebuilding of the family business after it burned to the ground in 1984 or facing difficult chemotherapy treatments and 33 rounds of radiation at the age of 81.

Corkey and Phil purchased Hayti Auto & Tractor Parts in 1968.  She was the bookkeeper and continued keeping the books until she retired at the age of 85.  In addition, for 55 years, she assisted Phil, who was the Treasurer of the city of Hayti, with balancing the city books each month.

Corkey enjoyed camping and boating with family and friends.  She also enjoyed working in the yard and traveling.  She and Phil traveled some to other countries, but especially enjoyed traveling all over the United States with her sister and brother-in-law, Pat and Bill Foster.

Corkey was a woman of faith and she instilled in her children the importance of family, hard work and Christian values.  She was a true role model for her family.  She was a member of the First Baptist Church in Hayti where she had been a Sunday School teacher and sang in the choir.  Corkey was also a member of the Beta Sigma Phi sorority for over 60 years.

Corkey was preceded in death by her parents.  She is survived by her husband, Phil, her three daughters, Debbie (Gene) Fowler of Portageville, Marisa Bowen of Sikeston, Amber (Mark) Wells of Hayti, three grandchildren, Courtney Wilson, John Phillip McCulloch (Erica), and Hanna Wells, six great-grandchildren, and two great-great-grandchildren.  She is also survived by her sister, Patricia (Bill) Foster of Portageville.

Now that Corkey has passed into the arms of our Lord, we should remind ourselves that while this is the end of her physical life on Earth, it's the beginning of an eternal and beautiful journey for her.  Her family will miss her deeply but look forward to seeing her again when they someday join her in heaven.

Visitation is scheduled for Saturday, January 21 ^st from 5 pm until 8 pm.  Funeral services with Brother Mark Hoover will be held on Sunday, January 22 ^nd at 2:00 pm.  Both will be held at the First Baptist Church in Hayti.

John German Funeral Home of Hayti is in charge of arrangements.