Cora Jane Bowman Harakal, a unique and talented woman, passed peacefully into the arms of Jesus on June 7, 2021, in Granbury, Texas, at a beautiful 90 years old.

Born to Carl and Iva Bowman in Mt. Blanchard, Ohio in 1930, Jane grew up in the Depression as a middle child of nine and the youngest girl.  She defied the odds of her day to go to college, receive a music degree, and teach school for a few years until her children were born. While at Bowling Green Univer­sity, she met the love of her life, John Harry Harakal, Jr., whom she married in 1952.  They finished college and then his medical school education toge­ther in Missouri, finally making it to Texas in 1959.  At his death in 1995; they had been married 42 years; she never remarried because she didn’t “want to train a new one.” Together she and John traveled the world and had four children of whom she was immensely proud: Cora Suzanne Harakal Werley (S. Gary Werley), Jane Ellen Harakal Phillips (Michael Phillips), David Andrew Harakal (Suzanne R. Harakal) and Jeffrey Edmond Harakal (Tim Rodgers), all of whom survive to cherish her memory.

She loved Jesus, and when asked recent­ly, said her life goal was to serve God, which she did in myriad ways: singing, sewing, altar guild, flower guild, prayer groups, hospitality, generosity and what­ever needed to be done.  At her death, she was a member of St. Peter’s Ortho­dox Church in Ft. Worth, Texas, having grown up Methodist, and then been an Episcopalian for decades.

She was deeply invol­ved in the Ft. Worth Botanical Society, serving in multiple capa­cities, including volunteer wrangling at the bi-annual plant sale. She also served as President, etc. of the Girls Service League of Ft. Worth and with various civic and church committees and organiza­tions throughout her life.

She loved her family, especially her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.  She was an accomplished artist and also enjoyed flowers and landscaping, collecting fine and rustic things that showed beauty and crafts­man­ship, and spending time with her friends, who were very dear to her. 

Many in her large family predeceased her: beloved husband Dr. John H. Harakal, Jr., brothers Kenny (Millie), Jack, and Jim (Janice), sisters Evelyn (Doc), Ruthie (Dave), Joan (Orville) and Eloise who died at a young age; and nephews Carl Ray Bowman, Scott Bowman, RJ Biery and Tim Beckwith.

Jane is survived by the children mention­ed above, as well as grandchildren: Andrew Werley (Angie), Alisha Werley Waring, Lauren Hanvey Tune, Lindsey Hanvey Benjamin (Brad), Jonathan Hanvey (Shannon), Emily Phillips Rainey, Royce Phillips, Callie Harakal Marshall (Treston), and Timothy David Harakal (Madeleine); great-grandchild­ren: Peyton Hining, Austin Werley, Audrey Werley, Ainsley Werley, Sophia Waring, Graham Waring, Alyssa Werley, Madelyn Benjamin, Mackenzie Benjamin, James Ellen Tune and Jackson Rainey; brother Bob Bowman (Rosalyn), sister-in-law Suzanne Harakal Moczygemba, brother-in-law James Harakal, and numerous nieces and nephews that she adored, most of whom still live in or around Mt. Blanchard, Ohio, and attend the Bowman family annual reunions . . . she will be missed there and everywhere.  Praise God she is finally home. 

She will lie in state (just like the queen!) at Martin’s Funeral Home, 100 S. Morgan St., Granbury, TX, on Thursday, June 10, 2021, from 10 am to 7 pm.  You are invited to the requiem mass to be held Friday, June 11, 2021, at 1:00 pm at St. Peter’s Orthodox Church, 7601 Bellaire Dr. S., Ft. Worth, Texas, followed immediately by interment in the Acton Cemetery near Granbury, Texas.