Malessia Jane Bowling, 68, of Connersville, Indiana, went to be with her Lord on Wednesday, December 12, 2018, at her residence after a long courageous battle with cancer.
She was born on May 4, 1950 in Connersville, Indiana, to Horace Manley, Jr. of Connersville, Indiana and the late Barbara Jean Manley.
She is survived by her loving husband of over 50 years – Charles David Bowling. They were married on August 4, 1967 in Connersville, Indiana. She loved working with him on their family farm.
She was a graduate of Connersville High School. She attained a Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work and later a Master of Science Degree in Adult Education from Indiana University East. She also earned a Master’s Degree Addiction Counselor’s License from the State of Indiana. For several years, she owned and operated her own Christian based counseling service which was called Prevention and Education Resource Center in Connersville, Indiana. She specialized in drug and alcohol abuse counseling. She had also been employed at Kid’s Peace – which was a foster care program. She had a servant’s heart and loved to help people – especially children of abusive parents, children of substance abuse parents, and abused women. She volunteered to help many, many different organizations. She was a CASA – Court Appointed Special Advocate; a volunteer at the Fayette County Senior Center Arts Program; a volunteer at the Women’s Abuse Shelter in Richmond, Indiana; as well as many other programs.
She was a very active, dedicated member of the Higher Praise Worship Center in Connersville, Indiana. She taught Sunday School and also counseled children there. Her whole life was dedicated to serving God and people. She was a member of the Eastern Indiana Gem & Geological Society and loved making jewelry out of stones. She was also a member of the Indiana University East Alumni.
She was a wonderful mother to her four children – Marla (Richard) Harsh of Milton, Indiana; Jeanette (Randall “Randy”) Lunsford of Centerville, Indiana; Darren (Erica) Bowling of Laurel, Indiana; and James Bowling of Manilla, Indiana. She is also survived by 9 grandchildren – Brett Lunsford, Derek Wilson, Chayil Gindling, Dylan Harsh, Andrew Harsh, Tyler Bowling, Ashton Noah, Summer Bowling, and Oakley Bowling; 14 great-grandchildren; 2 brothers – Richard (Sophia) Manley of Connersville, Indiana and Rodney Manley of Clearwater, Florida; 2 sisters-in-law – Ella (Carl) Sizemore of Connersville, Indiana and Lou Ann Hertel of Greenwood, Indiana; several nieces, nephews, cousins and many friends.
Besides her mother, she was also preceded in death by her special mother-in-law and father-in-law – Isaac “Ike” and Hattie Bowling and her two brothers-in-law – William Bowling and Albert Hertel. In addition, she was preceded in death by her sister – Melinda “Jeannie” Dozier.
The visitation for Malessia will be at the Blooming Grove Family Worship Center located at 15001 Stone Church Road in Blooming Grove, Indiana, on Saturday, December 15, 2018 from 11:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m. The funeral service at the church will begin at 2:00 p.m. Pastor Tom Marshall of the Blooming Grove Family Worship Center and Pastor Richie Ware of Higher Praise will officiate the service. Burial will be in Everton Cemetery.