Merle Bowlby

Merle G. Bowlby, age 72, of Kalamazoo, MI passed away suddenly Saturday, October 15, 2016. He was born July 14, 1944 in Three Rivers, the son of Hiram and Hazel (Kreitzer) Bowlby. In 1963 he served in the U. S. Air Force. Merle was a self-employed accountant for Bowlby Accounting and Lockwood Tax Service. He was a member of Cross Community Church of the Nazarene. On May 17, 1980 he married Beth (Raifsnider) Bowlby, who survives. Also surviving are his daughter Amy (Stacey) DeGraaf; grandchildren Abby Hixson, Stephen and Clayton DeGraaf; brothers Terry (Estelle) Bowlby and Clifford (Polly) Bowlby; sister-in-law Jama Bowlby; and many other special family and friends. He was preceded in death by a brother Orrin Bowlby. The family will receive friends from 11:00am to 12:00pm on Wednesday, October 19th at the Cross Community Church of the Nazarene (5625 Oakland Dr.) where a service to celebrate his life will begin at 12:00pm. In lieu of flowers, memorials in Merle's memory may be directed to the family.