Obituary of Rita Lorraine Bowman

Rita Crosby West Bowman 

 Rita passed away on January 31st after a long battle with Vascular Dementia and Alzheimer’s. She was born October 11th, 1943 in Brunswick, Maine to her parents Mildred(Gerald) and Delbert Crosby.

 Shortly after they moved to the 200-acre dairy farm in Benton that she grew up on and where her parents lived out their lives. Her love of animals in all forms was born on her family's farm. She was active in the 4H and a true farm girl. She spent her childhood exploring the farm on the back of her first horse a paint named Beauty. 

 She graduated from Lawrence High School in 1961. She was the salutatorian of her class. She attended college for one year in hopes of becoming a teacher. But, It wasn’t meant to be, life had other plans for her. While back home on the farm Rita met her first husband David West. They were married in 1963 and soon after they purchased their own 100-acre farm on the same road as her parents where she lived for the next 48 years. 

 She filled her barn with countless animals of every shape and form who she lovingly cared for. Her house was oftentimes overflowing with her beloved cats and dogs over the years.

 Gardening was also a love of hers. She always had a huge vegetable garden that she would soon lose the battle of the weeds to. But not before she managed to can and freeze for her family and sell the extra on the roadside. Her flower gardens also brought her great joy. Year after year she planted her dahlias, cannas, and gladiolus bulbs in the spring and enjoyed them all summer. 

 Rita was also sometimes known to kick up her heels on a Saturday night with David and their friends at the local dance halls of the day. 

 They were also proprietors of a store in Benton for a time called West’s Variety. It was not her dream and when the store was sold she did not shed a tear. 

 While owning the store Rita attended the reserve police officer academy with David and that propelled her into the next chapter of her life. She worked as a reserve officer for Winslow PD for many years and started her 26 years as a security officer along with a few other jobs at Colby College. 

 She met her second husband James Bowman at her 25th class reunion. Who she remained married to until his passing in December of 2022. 

 Rita’s passion in life was her love of horses. She had a lifelong love affair with them. She enjoyed taking her grandchildren to riding lessons and horse shows. This brought her great joy in her life. She passed this love on to some of her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. 

 Rita was predeceased by her parents, husband, brother Ronald, sister Diane, and her beloved grandson Owen Hotham. She is survived by her daughters Donna + Jay Young, Deborah + Sean Ford, son Jody West, stepson Ben Bowman, and brother Roger + Sharon Crosby.

 Grandchildren, Alli Hotham, Quentin Hood, Amanda Gheorghe, Adam West, Peter Bryant, Bianca and Beorn Brueckner and Tuesday and Torin Ford. 

 Great Grandchildren, Hailie and River Hotham, Carter Grenier, Lincoln Rideout, and Daxton and Ryker Bryant. Special people in her life include her much-loved nieces Tammy Crosby and Bonnie Crosby Dersham who spent most weekends, school vacations, and summers with her. Her special former daughter-in-law of many years Amy Doody, her granddaughter-in-law Ashley Ferris, her ex-husband David West, and her lifelong friend Barbara Richards. 

 There will be no service per Rita’s request. Anyone wishing to honor her can make a donation to Charley’s Strays in Clinton, Maine.