Kenneth Poe Funeral Services

06-04-1964 ~ 06-23-2026

 CHARLOTTE - It was on June 4, 1964 ~ in Auburn, New York ~ that life changed forever for Marilynn and Bob Bowler.  The curly-haired baby girl with the huge, shiny brown eyes that looked right into your soul and weighing in at 7 lbs. 7 ozs. was born at 6:07 p.m.   The nurses were the first to notice her brightness. Even as a newborn she seemed so aware of our world and looked at her parents as if she had known them forever ... as if she recognized that she belonged to them and they to her.

Her name was chosen after the co-star on the Dick Van Dyke Show ...Laura Petry.  Hence, "Laura" was her first name.  Her middle name was almost genetic since her grandmother, her mother and her two maternal aunts all had "Anne" as their middle name.  Laura Anne Bowler was a star in the true sense of the word.  To see her as a beautiful little girl and watch the reaction others instantly felt when they saw her and held her foretold the beautiful teenager, then young adult, then middle-aged woman she would become, Laura was absolutely beautiful inside and out. 

From her years at St. Gabriel Catholic School through high school and college (Lees-McRae where she was a cheerleader ... of course the one who climbed to the top of the pyramid and jumped full-force to the ground! and then UNCC) ...she was always surrounded by friends.  She reveled in those friendships and many of them continued on through the years as she married, became a Mom, and built a career as a media specialist  booking comedians for the popular Comedy Zone chain.

It was a stroke of luck when she met and married Mark Chandler Whitley.  They were the perfect match, each enjoying the other's talents, skills and personality.  When Rachel Farrell Whitley was born on November 2, 1996, their joy and pride were unmatched.  And their family was complete.

Segue through Laura's adult life through mostly great times with a few health challenges which she overcame ...until Tuesday, June 23, 2026.  That was the day we kissed her, hugged her tight, whispered words of love to her, and sent her to Heaven.  That was also the day she was reunited with her Dad, her two sisters, her niece, her beloved aunt, her grandparents and with the baby brother she had never met because he preceded her to Heaven when Laura was only 8 months old. She'll also be overjoyed to once again see her mother-in-law and father-in-law, Barbara and Marvin Whitley, as well as her brothers-in-law, Chris Whitley and Al Hinman.

She is now closely watching over those still on this earth whom she loved the most: her husband, Mark; her daughter, Rachel (Zane Duncan); her mother, Marilynn; her mother-in-law, Carol Chatham; her sister, Elizabeth ("Beth")' her brother, Tom; her brothers-in-law, David and Andy Whitley; her sister-in-law Kate Whitley; her brother-in-law, David Duke; and niece Karrington Duke, her nephews, Stefan Duke, Andrew Whitley (Maddi); Carlisle (Lauren); Walker (Brook); her great-niece McKaela Ridings; her great-nephews Braeden Ridings, Colton Sekelsky, Brady Sekelsky; Callum Whitley; and a tribe of close and cherished aunts, uncles, cousins and friends who will all miss her every single day.

The funeral Mass will be held at St. Gabriel Catholic Church in Charlotte on Thursday, July 9th at 11:00 a.m. with visitation between 10:00-11:00 a.m.

Donations in Laura's memory may be made to: The CPCC Foundation, Attn: Vanessa Stolen, P.O. Box 35009, Charlotte, NC 28235.   Please indicate it's for the Victoria A. Bowler Memorial Scholarship Fund (which provides scholarships to students specializing in nursing. medical assistant, and paralegal careers and who are in need of financial help.) OR Camp SOAR % Special Olympics Mecklenburg County, 309 E. Morehead St.- Suite 250, Charlotte, NC. 28202.

Arrangements are in the care of Kenneth W. Poe Funeral & Cremation Service, 1321 Berkeley Ave., Charlotte, NC 28204; (704) 641-7606. Online condolences may be shared at www.kennethpoeservices.com.

Job well done, Laura.  You continue to shine.