Biography: Donice Bivens Bowen, 86, died in hospice care at St. Andrews Place in Conway, Arkansas on December 3, 2009 after a long and valiant struggle with Parkinson's Disease. She was born in a farmhouse in the Pearson Community just outside of Quitman, Arkansas. She was the oldest daughter of H.P. and Esther Bivens. Although she considered being a Mother her highest calling, she was retired from the Arkansas Bureau of Weights and Measures where she worked as a secretary. She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, A.C. "Buck" Bowen, her brother William Henry Bivens and his wife Jean, another sister-in-law, Ginger Bivens and a beloved niece, Lesa Means. She is survived by her four sons, Arthur Paul and John V. Bowen,his wife Amy and grandson Clarke of Little Rock, David R. Bowen and his wife Judy of Springfield, Missouri and Robert L. "Bob" Bowen, his wife Shirley and grandsons Eli, Henry and Max. She is survived by her brothers, Howard P. Bivens and his wife Marlene of Louisville, Kentucky and Ralph L. Bivens of Quitman. She is also survived by her sister Charlsie Gadberry and husband Joe of Bixby Oklahoma,their daughter Alice and her husband Gary as well as two Arkansas nieces, Rebecca Parke and her husband Steve of Fort Smith and Jananne Reding and her husband David of Little Rock. Mother was a modest and unassuming woman whose greatest happiness was in her family and friends. Widowed far too young, she was left to raise her sons at the family home in Mabelvale by herself. None of them saw the inside of a jail and all went on to be successful productive men in their own right. When her health began to deteriorate, she moved to Conway to an assisted living community and then to St. Andrews where she spent the last 3 years of her life. Mother suffered greatly in her final years. Her passing is indeed a blessing. A visitation will be held at Ruebel Funeral Home on December 7, 2009 from 5 to 7:00 PM. A celebration of her life will be held at 10 am on December 8 at Pulaski Heights United Methodist Church. She will be buried in Pearson Cemetery in Cleburne County. In honor of Mother's love of the birds of the air the family requests that donations be made to the Audubon Society. Donations in her honor may also be made to the Parkinson's Disease Foundation or to the charity of your choice. The family wishes to thank the dedicated staffs' of both St. Andrews Place and Odyssey Hospice for their professional and compassionate care of Mother. Arrangements by Ruebel Funeral Home, www.ruebelfuneralhome.com