Kate Bradley Bowers was an encourager at heart. No matter how rough the going got, she was there to encourage others, to give them that little extra “ump” they needed to get over the next hurdle.

Kate Bowers, 86, died July 23 at Signature Health Care, which had been her home for the past two years.

“She was one of the sweetest people I’ve ever known. She loved her family, her church, the people who cared for her, and especially those who needed a little extra something in their life,” said a niece, Amy Campbell.

Kate enjoyed sending cards. “She sent birthday cards, sympathy cards, get well cards, thinking of you cards, and cards of encouragement. Aunt Kate especially enjoyed sending cards to those serving in the military. She kept the prayer list from church, and sent cards to those people. Since her death I have received countless messages from people, who especially noted her gift of encouragement and having received a card from her at some time in their life,” shared Amy.

Kate was a member of Southside Christian Church, a person of faith, who daily read her Bible and prayed.

Kate had lived in the Southside Community since the mid-’70s. Before that she lived for a time in Florida and later in North Carolina. A graduate of Elizabethton High School, Amy recalls that her aunt worked for a short time in her younger days at the old Anderson Supermarket, later at Smithdeal’s, and retired from Empire Furniture Company in Johnson City.

“Aunt Kate was never a materialistic person. People were more important to her than things. She enjoyed people, especially meeting new people,” Amy shared

In addition to sending cards, Kate enjoyed reading. “She liked to get her hands on a good book. She especially liked church cookbooks and reading through them. She didn’t have a lot of them, nor did she cook a lot, especially in her later years. But, she was a good cook. I especially remember her chicken casserole and banana pudding. Both were good,” Amy recalls.

Kate was preceded in death by her husband, Clyde H. Bowers, and two brothers and three sisters. She and Clyde did not have any children.

She is survived by a sister, Margaret Bradley, and a brother, John “Bud” Bradley, in addition to several nieces and nephews.

“Aunt Kate was always a happy person. I remember her laughter. It was a joy to be around her. If she was having a down day, you never knew it. She was more interested in how you were doing rather than herself. She was a very unselfish person,” Amy shared.

Kate Bowers was not a rich person as far as worldly possessions go, nor did she have any degrees after her name. But, she had what counts. She cared about people.