Emmett Bowman “EB” Seals

Emmett Bowman ‘EB’ Seals
June 27, 1923 - March 14, 2015

Emmett Bowman “EB” Seals went home to his Savior’s loving arms on March 14, 2015. Faithful husband, loving parent, grandparent and great-grandparent, EB’s life was a rich tapestry.
Born in 1923 to Ambrose and Carrie Seals, he was the second to the youngest of seven children, and was the last surviving member of his family.
Raised on a farm near Harriett, Texas, Bowman loved to tell stories of himself as a youngster, plowing the fields with mules, playing jokes on his older brothers and doting on his baby sister. In 1944, EB answered his country’s call during WWII, and enlisted in the U.S. Navy.
Away from home for the first time in his life, EB was assigned as a Boat Coxswain aboard the USS Ozark in the Pacific.
He served in many of the major battles of the Pacific Theater, landing Marines on beaches, ferrying ammunition and supplies, and retrieving wounded Marines during combat.
He was under direct fire repeatedly by heavy artillery and bombing runs. Some of the battles he was directly engaged in included Luzon, Iwo Jima, Leyte, Okinawa and the occupation landing of Japan. During the battle for Iwo Jima, Bowman personally witnessed the flag raising from his Higgins boat, and remembered the event all his life.
At the end of World War II, he was honorably discharged in 1946 with the rate of Seaman 1st Class. Returning to San Angelo, Texas, he was soon to discover the great love of his life, Mary Joyce. They were married in 1949, and remained devoted to each other, celebrating over 58 years of marriage before she preceded him in death.
Bowman loved his only child, David “Buck” Seals, and enjoyed a close relationship with him all his life – hunting, fishing, and even working together when Buck was teenager. By trade a builder and contractor, EB built schools, churches, houses and major buildings all over West Texas.
Eventually moving to Marble Falls, Bowman continued his trade as a well-known carpenter and respected contractor until his retirement. He loved to hunt and fish, and spent many years on the Colorado River at his cabin, inviting family and friends to share his hospitality and love of story-telling all evening as he waited around a campfire to check on trotlines.
Even more important than his building career, EB was known as a soul-winner for Christ. Serving faithfully in the Baptist Church in San Angelo, and later for many years in the 1st Baptist Church of Marble Falls, Bowman was known for his devotion to his faith. His favorite Scripture was Romans 8:28.
After his retirement, Bowman and Mary moved to the small community of Round Mountain. There, EB quickly discovered a new career as the first mayor of the town of Round Mountain, Texas, where he served in that elected capacity for many years.
But the thing Bowman was most proud of was his family – his grandsons, Grady and Lonnie, his adopted granddaughter, Marcy, and eventually his great-grandchildren, Nya and namesake, Bowman “Bo.”
EB is survived by: his son, David ‘Buck’ Seals and wife, Janet; his grandsons, Grady Seals, Lonnie Seals and wife, Donylle, and their children Nya and Bowman, and granddaughter Marcy Seals; as well as many cousins, nieces and nephews.
We will always remember his quick smile, his loving companionship, his gift of gab, a temper that sometimes matched his red hair, and his love for Christ. Thanks for all the summer watermelon parties, touch football games, fishing trips, Christmas light parades and Superbowl parties, Pa Bowman! We’ll miss you.
A funeral will be held at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, March 18, 2015, at the Crofts-Crow Funeral Chapel in Johnson City, Texas. Visitation will be on Tuesday March 17, 2015. Interment will follow at the Round Mountain Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Buckner International Children’s Homes (www.buckner.org,) to Cal Farley’s Boys’ Ranch & Girlstown (https://calfarley.org) or to Samaritan’s Purse (www.samaritanspurse.org.)