Wednesday, May 8, 2024
Granbury High School choir director Jeremy Bowen introduced his girlfriend. He had big news.
“I’d like you to meet my finance, Ashley,” he said.
Bowen was beaming when he made the introductions to school board president Nancy Alana and school superintendent Jeremy Glenn.
The couple had just performed with a choir at the funeral for John Herrington, husband of Granbury School Board member Barbara Herrington, Saturday in Acton United Methodist Church.
Just hours later, a car crash would take the lives of the young couple.
“Jeremy Bowen was one of a kind, talented beyond measure, loved and respected by all who knew him,” Alana said. “He had a smile without an end, always smiling. My heart breaks for his family, his students, his fellow staff members, his friends and GISD.”
The couple had gone to a party in Stephenville Saturday night and were traveling on Interstate 20 toward Fort Worth where Bowen lived, authorities reported. Bowen, 28, was driving a 2015 Chevrolet Cruze west of Weatherford when the crash occurred, possibly between midnight and 1 a.m., according to the Texas Department of Public Safety’s preliminary investigation.
The vehicle went into the center median, down an embankment and into a ravine, hitting the other side of the embankment, the DPS said.
Bowen and Ashley Morrison, 26, of Fort Worth, were pronounced deceased at the scene. A trooper happened upon the crash site about 8 a.m. Sunday while he was looking for loose livestock in the area.
Fatigue may have been a factor in the crash, the DPS said. “But we will probably never know,” said DPS Sgt. Dub Gillum. “Could have been an animal crossing the road or another vehicle. It also had rained Saturday night and the road could have been slick.”
Bowen, a 2008 Granbury graduate, also served as co-music director at First Christian Church of Granbury and was a pianist and clinician throughout the Metroplex. He also served as an instrumentalist, accompanist and music director for Granbury Theatre Company productions at the Granbury Opera House.
Bowen had just recently started working at GHS, after three years at Granbury Middle School.
Bowen earned a bachelor’s degree in music from Tarleton State University.
Morrison, also a Tarleton graduate, was a music teacher at Hoover Elementary School in Azle and involved with the music program at Acton United Methodist Church in Granbury.
“Our hearts are broken with the news of Mr. Bowen’s passing,” said GHS principal Jeremy Ross. “He was a talented musician and an integral part of our Gran-bury choral program both as a director and accompanist for many years. He will be missed by his students and fellow teachers both at the high school and GMS as well as by friends here in GISD and elsewhere throughout the community. We will provide counselors for our students and staff as long as necessary.”
Kendra Fisher, the head choir director at GHS, said, “I am deeply saddened by this tragic loss. I am at a loss for words. Jeremy Bowen was a great friend to me and will be truly missed. A truly outstanding musician and teacher with so much talent and potential. I am honored to have known him, to have worked with him and to have called him my friend.”
In a prepared statement for students, GMS principal Pat Yelverton said, “We know many of you who are in choir really liked Mr. Bowen, and, even though he moved to the high school this year, you still may have seen him occasionally and are really sad to hear about this ... We will all miss Mr. Bowen very much, and we will be here to provide assistance to you. Together, we will all get through this.”
Many people went on social media to share their memories of Bowen and Morrison.
The Granbury High School Choir tweeted, “He enriched the lives of everyone he met and will be greatly missed, both in GISD and in the Texas Choral community. We have all been richly blessed to have known him.”
Ian Cone tweeted, “Mr. Bowen was an outstanding musician and an even better man. It was a pleasure to perform alongside and work with such a talented man.”
Velesa Sullivan said on Facebook, “Simply heartbreaking. She sang like an angel. We will miss her sweet voice at AUMC.”
Pat Lawler Larson said on Facebook, “He was so very talented.”
Ashley Anderson also said on Facebook, “Mr. Bowen was my son’s favorite teacher. We are heartbroken.”
Bowen previously taught at Denton Guyer High School before serving a graduate assistantship at Baylor University, where he studied collaborative piano.
He was most recently pursuing a master’s degree in music education at Kansas State University.
First Christian Church hosted a candlelight vigil Sunday evening, and counselors were available in the GHS auditorium that evening.
School counselors and local ministers have been at GMS and GHS assisting students and staff members.
ditor@hcnews.com | 817-573-7066, ext. 245
