Lou Etta ‘Buddie’ Bowman Bagwell passed away on 10/1/2019 at the age of 90.  She was preceded in death by her husband of 64 years, Joe Bagwell, her parents, William F. Bowman and Lou Etta Bowman, her sisters, Hazel Eason, Georgia Decker and Margaret Martin, her brothers, Bill Bowman and Harvey Bowman. She is survived by her sister, Bertha Marie ‘Jody’ Cody. Her children, Bill Bagwell (Jane), Joe Bagwell (Kelly), Jerry Bagwell (Jill), Susan Bagwell Glisson (Michael dec.), Geneva Bagwell Payne (Jimmy) and JoAnn Bagwell Epperson (Mike). Grandchildren, Melanie Randall (Wesley), Brian Bagwell (April), Jason Bagwell, Kristie Bagwell Christenson (David), Tori Bagwell, Joseph Bagwell, Susan Nicole Epperson, Bryant Epperson, Tasha Rae Raphile (Cardell)and adopted grandson, Jared Griffith. Great grandchildren, Brody Jackson, Aidan Bagwell and Lili Bagwell. She also left be numerous cousins, nieces and nephews.

The family would like to thank the many people who helped Mother before and since Daddy passed away, namely John Sandlin and his wife, Betty. John helped Mother when Daddy got sick and needed help around the house, he has continued to do so and is a very dear family friend. To all her friends on Lake Martin, Laura Broome, Fran Coan, and many more, especially Sherry Edwards, and to Sharon and Steve Fuller who were like a son and daughter to Mother, we thank you for all of your care and loving during the years. She missed being with you and being at the lake.  Carol Smith who helped Mother after she fell and cracked her hip and stayed with her for almost six months until Mother could get up and walk again without anyone’s help. Betty and Steve Peck, thank you for all the visits and lunches you had with Mother and for all the work around the house that Steve did to help Mother move around comfortably. Margaret Petty, thank you for all the visits and phone calls to Mother, she was very grateful for both.

 Lou Etta, known as Nana by many, loved her family and loved gathering at the lake with all of her kids, grandkids and great grand kids. She loved the Atlanta Braves and will be very disappointed if the Braves win the World Series and she was not here to see it. She also loved Alabama football. She loved to read and had several hundred books and could always be found with a book nearby. However, the main thing she was really famous for was her cooking and baking.  She could cook up a meal to die for, no one ever left her house hungry. Her cakes are the things that legends are made of. She had a pound cake that was truly wonderful but her chocolate cake was a chocolate lovers dream come true. This cake has been called ‘crack’ cake by many. Few have attempted to recreate it and as far as I know only one cousin, Debra Morton, has succeeded although we never got a chance to try it.

She did not wish to have any services, please celebrate her life in your own way. We thank God for allowing her to be here with us for as long as we had her.

Alabama Funeral Homes & Cremation Centers of Camp Hill, Alabama is handling arrangements.

www.alabamafuneralhomes.com