Meet Our New Potentate, Anthony “Tony” Bowers!

Anthony “Tony” Bowers was born on December 24, 1958 in Island Falls, The son of Rodney and Phyllis Bowers. He graduated from Katahdin High School in 1977 and attended the University of Maine in Farmington from 1977 to 1979.  While he was at the University of Maine in Farmington he was a member of the Downhill Ski Team. He moved to Long Beach, California and attended Cyprus College where he received a degree in Mortuary Science in 1908. Continuing his love of skiing, he raced in several western states with the Long Beach Ski Club, earning many trophies and was a pacesetter of many of the races.

 

He returned to Maine in 1983 to work in the family business and in 1985 he became the fourth generation to run Bowers Funeral Homes.  His oldest daughter is his secretary and has been for several years. His son who is a member of Molunkus Lodge No. 65 became a Shriner at the Belfast Ceremonial last June and has joined the family business. Tony is a past president of the Maine Funeral Directors Association. He has served as a member of the Disaster Mortuary Operational Response Team and has served in the Egypt Air flight 990 disaster and the September 2001 World Trade Center disaster. He worked on the Station Night Club fire assisting with autopsies and spent seventeen days working hurricane Katrina in Biloxi MS helping to identify victims and working with the families trying to locate their loved ones.

 

His wife and best friend is Carmel, whom he has known since age 12. They have four children, Jacquie who is Married to Josh Morse and have two sons, Dominic and Jace; Christina, Antonia (Nia) and Ted and his fiancé Brittnay.   Carmel is a graduate of R.A.H.M High School in Hebron, Connecticut  and has a degree in early childhood development from the University of Connecticut. She is involved with volunteer work and assists Tony in the family  business.

 

Tony is a member and Past Master of Molunkus Lodge No. 165 of Sherman and a member of Monument Lodge No. 96 of Houlton and the York Rite Bodies. He joined Anah Shriners on June 21, 1986 and is a member of the Royal Order of Jesters, Bangor Court No. 150. Tony and Carmel reside in the family homestead in Sherman Mills, Maine.

 

Tony was appointed Outer Guard in 2001 by Potentate Guy Chapman.