Lisa Diane Dougherty Bowman of Houston, TX, age 63, passed away at home on 19 April after a valiant two-year battle with pancreatic cancer. The beloved wife of Mark A. Bowman for nearly 39 years, Lisa was born to David Allen Dougherty, a police officer, and Gloria Jane Dougherty, a nurse, in Independence, MO. She was raised and attended church, elementary, middle and high school in Independence. A voracious reader and life-long learner, she attended two junior colleges and two universities in three states and accumulated enough credits for multiple degrees; but as life happened, she sacrificed her own academic goals and college degrees for her husband and children.

Lisa's physical beauty was exceeded only by her beautiful mind and intellect.  She was a skilled pianist and enjoyed literature, philosophy, astronomy, linguistics (she studied 7 languages and spoke fluent German and conversational Russian), history, archaeology, culture, world affairs, music, museums, movies (especially the classics), pets (cats and dogs, but never again at the same time), and travel, both foreign and domestic. On her own and with her family, Lisa visited 43 states, the DC, and one territory of the US as well as 20 foreign countries in the Americas, Europe and Asia, living abroad for a total of 6 1/2 years - a full 10% of her life.   Lisa was an avid genealogist, conducting research on her own family tree as well as her husband's.  She enjoyed combining travel with her genealogical sleuthing, visiting sites of significance to her ancestors and those of the family.

Lisa worked for over 6 years as a technical editor at the Lunar and Planetary Institute in Houston, and operated her own day care business for two years before dedicating full time to her young family, including home schooling her two children from elementary through high school. She was gifted with a sharp mind and encyclopedic memory that greatly benefited her children and made her dangerous at Trivial Pursuit.

Besides her loving husband Mark, Lisa is survived by her son, Jordan Bowman of Oak Ridge, TN; her daughter, Megan Bowman of Houston; sisters Marcia (Tenny) Dewey of Olathe, KS, Susan (Bryan) Vinson of Charlotte, NC and Jenilee (Nathan) Green of Kansas City, MO; step-sisters Angela Gonzalez of Independence, MO, Staci (Tom) Greco of Overland Park, KS; step-brother Matt Riley of Sugar Creek, MO; step-mother Sandee Dougherty of Independence, MO; and numerous cousins, nieces, nephews and their families. Lisa was predeceased by her father, David Dougherty; her mother, Gloria Jane Barton; step-father Gary Barton; and step-sister Gabrielle Riley.

Private family memorial services will be scheduled in the future. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial donations be made in Lisa’s name to the American Cancer Society, the American Red Cross, or a worthy charity of your choice.

Send to someone

Share this obituary with others

https://everloved.com/life-of/lisa-bowman/obituary/

Copy