Bowers, Keith Patrick

New Glasgow, NS

August 11, 1939 - December 06, 2025

Keith Patrick Bowers, 86, passed away peacefully, December 6, 2025, in the Aberdeen Hospital, New Glasgow, surrounded by the love of his family.

Born August 11, 1939, Keith Patrick Bowers was the fourth child in a family of nine born to the late Clifford Francis and Olive May (Fraser) Bowers. The family moved to a small farm in Fall River in 1945 and at the tender age of 17 Keith boarded a train in Windsor Junction and headed to Comox, B.C. to join the Royal Canadian Air Force. Keith retired from the military after serving 25 years at several bases in Canada and Ogden, Utah.  He ended his military career with a “Deserving Serviceman Award” a 28-day trip around the Pacific Rim. He was a very proud military man.

In 1984 he moved back to Fall River with his parents and three years later he met Rosemary Gillis, at a " New Beginnings " weekend retreat. He had no chance once she set her cap for this tall and handsome fellow. They shared their love for family, faith, and friends. They were married in 1993.  Right away Keith became a wonderful father figure to her two sons, Adam and Kristian and, later, Grampie to Kristian's, daughter "Lilly".

Keith and Rosemary built a life together first in Fall River where the boys went to school, then Eastern Passage, Antigonish, New Glasgow, and Gander, N.L. Upon Rosemary's retirement they returned to New Glasgow where their life centered on family, friends and neighbourhood gatherings in the summer lanai on Robertson Street. Keith enjoyed the Pictou Senior's Bowling League in New Glasgow and the people he met there. He enjoyed all sports: golf, bowling, baseball and curling among others and in his later years he became a great armchair athlete. He will be greatly missed by those he loved.

Keith is survived by his wife of 32 years, Rosemary Gillis-Bowers; children, James, Lawrence, David and Carol Bowers, Kingston, Ont.; stepsons, Adam LeFort, Dartmouth; Kristian LeFort, New Glasgow; granddaughter, Lillian LeFort;  brothers, Bob Bowers, Kingston; Ross (Louise) Bowers, Antigonish; sisters, Sheila (Brian) Allen, Lower Sackville; Sharon Demmings, Lower Sackville; sisters-in-law, Cath Fitzgerald, Halifax; Jean Casey, Wolfville; Kaye Ruthard, Oshawa, Ont.; Patricia (Wayne) Harley, Halifax; Janet Gillis, Margaree; brothers-in-law, Stuart Gillis, Innisfail, Alta.; Doug (Isabel) Gillis, Judique; Ken (Carla) Gillis, Sydney; Greg Gillis, Margaree; many nieces and nephews.

Besides his parents, Keith was predeceased by sisters, Peggy Rafuse and Joyce Rhodenizer; brothers, Gary Bowers and Eric Bowers; sisters-in-law, Winnie Bowers, Gloria Bowers, May Gillis, Louise Gillis, Mary Edinburgh and Geraldine Gillis; brothers-in-law, Garnet Rafuse, Doug Rhodenizer, Basil Demmings, Peter Casey, Warner Ruthard, John Gillis, Graham Gillis and Harold Gillis.

The family will receive visitors 1-1:50 p.m. Saturday, December 13 in P. & K. MacDonald Funeral Home Chapel from where funeral service will be held at 2 p.m. with Deacon Sander Burke presiding with a reception to follow.  Interment will be in Fall River Cemetery at a late date.

The Bowers family wish to thank the Aberdeen Hospital Palliative Care team, Pictou County VON, Veterans Affairs Canada and a special thank you to Deacon Sander Burke for his weekly visits.

Family flowers only. Donations may be made in Keith's memory to the Pictou County Food Bank East.