Dora Mae (Burnett) (Shull) Bowman

Dora Mae (Burnett) (Shull) Bowman, 96, died on Aug. 3, 2025, at the Scott County Hospital in Scott City.

She was born Sept. 29, 1928, at the family home on the Hackberry Creek in Lane County, the seventh and last child of Leroy and Lou (Lloyd) Burnett.

She attended Hackberry Grade School and when she was just 13 years old she moved into an apartment in Dighton with some other girls to attend high school. She graduated from Dighton High in 1946 in a class of 29 students of which six became “Shull Family”.

On August 5, 1948, she married Harry Shull. They moved into the JW Shull family with the entire clan until “Pappy and Mom” moved to town a few years later.

During their time on the farm they had two daughters, Lou Ann and Tammy. They continued to live on the farm until Sept. 17, 1983, when Harry suddenly passed away. At that time she and Tammy moved into Dighton.

On Jan. 2, 1993, she married Calvin Bowman. She eventually moved to Scott City in 2010, to care for Calvin there. Each move she made was always her decision, from moving into independent living, into the nursing home and even in her final trip to her forever home.

She spent her entire life doing for others. She not only took care of her family but anyone who needed help. She taught Sunday school, was a 4-H leader and loved being a “church lady” always helping or organizing funeral dinners or any activity that needed sandwiches prepared.

She and Harry owned and operated Shull’s Jewelry and Gifts for over 10 years. She later became the director for the Lane County Chamber of Commerce.

One accomplishment that she took pride in was serving on the committee that designed and built the Lane County JOY Center. She was a member of the Dighton Methodist Church and member of the As You Like It Club in Lane County for many years. She also served on the JOY board and served on the board for the Southwest Kansas Area Agency on Aging.

One of her biggest loves was leading the “JOY Band” as they traveled and entertained all over southwest Kansas, playing mostly for nursing home residents.

Survivors include a daughter, Tammy Rice and husband, Steve, Scott City; two step-daughters, Pam Augustine and husband, Greg, Ellis, and Cheri Benjamin, Antigua, West Indies; a son-in-law, Marty Hickey, Hutchinson; 10 grandchildren, six great-grandchildren and over 300 nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents; daughter, Lou Ann Hickey; five brothers and their wives, Leonard and Lillian Burnett, Lester and Frona Burnett, Howard and Lottie Burnett, Albert Burnett and Emmett Burnett; and one sister and husband, Lillie and Sam Heath.

The funeral service will be Fri., Aug. 8, 10:30 a.m., at the United Methodist Church in Dighton with Rev. Laura Cherry officiating.

Burial will be at Dighton Memorial Cemetery.

Memorials are suggested to the United Methodist Church, JOY Center or Park Lane Nursing Home in care of Boomhower Funeral Home, Box 891, Dighton, Ks. 67839.

Condolences may be posted at www.garnandfuneralhomes. com.