Alfred Ray Bowens, Jr.
God reached down from heaven, “My precious boy, it is now the time. It is now the season. Let’s go home.”
On January 19 th , 2023, Alfred Ray Bowens Jr was greeted at heaven’s gate.
Al Junior was born to the union of Alfred Senior and Maegratis Bowens on November 4 th , 1960, in Phoenix, Arizona, the eldest of four children. In 1967, at the age of 6, Al Junior moved with his family to Boise, Idaho. Al Junior attended Boise High School as a three-sport athlete and held the 100-meter record for 45 years. He was widely regarded as one of the top running backs in the nation for his high school recruiting class. He played running back for Washington State University, leading to a brief stint for the Dallas Cowboys. He lived and raised his family in Boise, Idaho.
To say he touched people’s lives would be an understatement; he forever changed people’s lives. Always for the better. One short interaction with Al could make a bad day good, and a good day super fantastic. He was not soft-spoken. He was bold, captivating, and would grab your arm or shoulder when he got to the good part, filling a room with laughter and joy. His stories would have you hanging on every word, and his lessons prompted introspection. All the while utilizing his greatest weapon; LOVE.
Speaking to him drew you spiritually closer to God, he was a bridge that enabled those that were lost and confused to find a good and understanding God, a comforter.
Al Junior is survived by his wife Sandra, son Keith Travis (Ericka), son Nicholas Jordan (Mikkell), daughter Tristin Alexandra Kennedy (Jacob), and his beloved grandson, Dash Jordan Bowens. He’s also survived by his sister DeEtta Blair, uncle Elluard H James “Uncle Bunny”, and mother-in-law Karen Yates, along with a host of nieces, nephews and cousins.
He was a little girl’s daddy; a grandson’s Grandpa Al; a wife’s honey. He was a son’s superhero, a cousin’s June and a friend’s good time.
Let his last words be…“I love you, and there’s NOTHING you can do about it.”
A visitation for family and friends will be held from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm, on Friday, February 17, 2023, at Bowman Funeral Parlor, 10254 W. Carlton Bay Dr. in Garden City. A funeral service will be held at 1:00 pm, Saturday, February 18, 2023, at St. Paul’s Baptist Church, 306 N. 14 th St. in Boise, with visitation at the church beginning at 12:00 pm.
To watch the funeral service, please visit: https://vimeo.com/799977012
Arrangements are under the direction of Bowman Funeral Parlor of Garden City.