Barbara Bower

1938-2018

Mrs. Barbara Micklin Bower, (nee McGrath), died unexpectedly yet peacefully on Friday September 7, 2018 in The Woodlands, Texas at the age of 80 years 5 months.

Barbara is survived by her 4 children, Connie Cuccia Kaufman (nee Micklin), Willie Micklin, Ronnie Micklin, and Karen Bodker Wood (nee Micklin); grandchildren Christopher, Jennifer, Ashleigh, Holly, Ryan, Caitlyn, Jake, Ellie, and Arjun; great grandchildren Savannah, Nikki, Carleigh, Charlotte, Elizabeth, Ryleigh, and Shane; siblings, Sharon Jacobsen (nee McGrath) and Patricia Rae Haver (nee Sherar). She is preceded in death by her husband, "Coach" Charles Richard (Dick) Bower, and her ex-husband Michael Thomas Micklin.

Barbara was born at home on February 4, 1938 in Suquamish, Washington to Margaret McGrath Sherar (nee Lauth) and Karl McGrath. She graduated from Bremerton High School in 1956. She married Michael Micklin, her high school sweetheart in 1956. After moving from Bremerton WA, to Bellingham WA, to East Lansing MI, to Austin, TX while assisting her husband Michael in pursuit of his PhD and Professor tenure, Barbara and her family settled in New Orleans LA and began her association with Tulane University, first supporting her husband as Professor, and after her divorce in 1974 working for Tulane University Swimming. A story book romance unfolded over a number of years, and in 1982 Barbara married the love of her life, Dick Bower, head coach of Tulane Swimming, and with Barbara coaches of the Bolts Swim Team USS swim club. The two of them set about teaching swimming to generations of children from the pool at St. Martins Episcopal School in Metairie LA. Barbara and Dick Bower were known as difficult and demanding coaches that earned respect throughout the swimming community.

Barbara was a national champion Masters swimmer, who, at the age of 64 won the 1,500-meter freestyle, and at age 67 the 200-yard and 1,650-yeard race for women at the United States Masters Long Course National Championships, and held 17 Southern Masters records. In 2005 Barbara was selected by the New Orleans Saints football team and Tenet Choices as a Tenet Choices Champion, as a person over age 65 who performed notable achievement after reaching the age of 65.  In 2007 Barbara was diagnosed with Multiple Myeloma, an incurable cancer of plasma blood cells responsible for producing antibodies necessary for the immune system, and was given 5 years to live.  Barbara thrived despite several chemotherapies, a stem cell transplant, and open heart surgery. Despite occasional side effects, Barbara lived a full and highly active life in her 11 years after diagnosis, never giving any indication of or complaint about her condition.

Barbara and Coach Bower relocated from New Orleans LA to The Woodlands TX after Katrina destroyed their home.  After retirement they continued to conduct swimming clinics until Dick passed away in 2013.  Barbara became an active and dedicated member of the Woodlands First Baptist Church and its Elders Ministry and often volunteered at church events.

Her children remember her as a loving mother who never showed favor among her 4 children, all one year apart in age. She was dedicated to family, doted on her grandchildren and great grandchildren, and encouraged and supported them throughout her life.

Barbara was an enrolled member of the Central Council of Tlingit and Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska and a shareholder of the Sealaska Regional Corporation. Her mother's people were the Teikweidi Brown Bear, Kaats Hit (man who married the bear), Tantakwaan (Tongass Tribe of Ketchikan), child of the Ganaxadi Raven, and grandchild of the Dleit kaa.

Barbara was cremated and her ashes will be interred with her husband Dick at the Klein Funeral Home and Memorial Park in Magnolia TX and at Ivy Green cemetery in Bremerton WA. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to the Woodlands First Baptist Church Elder Ministry or the Central Council Tlingit & Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska Elderly Emergency Assistance program. The family would like to thank the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center for their remarkable care provided during Barbara's 11 years of treatment.