Margaret E. Bowles

Margaret Emma Bowles, 75, of Leonardtown, MD, passed away Tuesday evening December 17, 2024. She was born on June 27, 1949, in Leonardtown, MD, to the late James Aubrey Bowles and Ramona Marie Wathen (Bowles Hayden). She is preceded in death by her husband Joseph Benjamin Bowles and three of their sons: Johnny, Ricky, and Pat, along with their great-grandson Levi. She is survived by her son Mike Bowles (Barbara Kay), two daughters Michelle Trossbach (Paul) and Joanne Brooks (Jason); her sister Grace “Sissy” Shoemaker and brothers Junior Bowles (Donna), George Bowles, Norman Bowles, and Eddie Bowles (Michelle); her grandchildren Tiffinay Brooks, Kayla Bowles, Charlie Trossbach, Kyle Bowles, Devin Brooks, Peter Trossbach, and Summer Brooks; her step-grandchildren Becky Lacey and Andy Trossbach (April); her great-grandson Jaxon Brooks; and her step-great-grandchildren Kyle Lacey, Ryan Lacey, Donald Litteral, and Gauge Trossbach. Margaret was a lifelong resident of St. Mary’s County. She attended Fr. Andrew White School, Leonardtown High, and then Chopticon High. She met the love of her life at a dance in Leonardtown, and married Joe on January 14, 1967, at St. Aloysius Catholic Church. The two were married 55 years until Joe’s passing. She loved him and her whole family with heroic devotion through many hardships, including the loss of three of their sons. Margaret was a loving homemaker for much of her life, devoted to raising her children, including caring for her son Pat through his battle with leukemia. Later on, she went to work as a document imaging specialist for LexisNexis alongside some of her closest friends for over 20 years. In her younger years, Margaret enjoyed painting ceramics, crocheting, and listening—even dancing—to her favorite oldies, like Conway Twitty and Chuck Berry. She welcomed everyone into her home, loving them as family. She had a generous heart, always ready to help in any way she could and faithfully donated to St. Jude’s. She will always be remembered for her sassy personality, her big beautiful brown eyes, and her fidelity and tender heart for her family. Her friends cherished her loyalty and friendship. All of her grandchildren will remember visits and holidays with “Maw-Maw” at the table or in the living room cracking jokes and telling stories of the past. Margaret's legacy of love and kindness will live on in the hearts of all who knew her. She will be deeply missed but forever remembered. The family will receive friends on Thursday, December 26, 2024, from 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM, with prayers recited at 7:00 PM in the Mattingley-Gardiner Funeral Home (Leonardtown, MD). The Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Friday, December 27, 2024, at 9:00 AM at St. John Francis Regis Catholic Church (Hollywood, MD), with Fr. Ray Schmidt officiating. Interment will follow in Charles Memorial Gardens (Leonardtown, MD). Pallbearers will be: Charlie Trossbach, Kyle Bowles, Devin Brooks, Junior Bowles, George Bowles, Norman Bowles, and Eddie Bowles. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital, Leonardtown Volunteer Rescue Squad, or St. John Francis Regis Catholic Church.