Kitzi Lee (Bedford) Bowman, 50, died January 16, 2025.
She was born on September 17, 1974 to Mark Graham and Linda Marie (Weede) Bedford. She was also the stepdaughter to Steve Gillis. Kitzi spent her childhood growing up in Bloomfield, Iowa and spent her teenage years in the Quad Cities where she graduated from Rock Island Highschool. Growing up as the third child out of four, Kitzi’s light shined highlighting her caring nature, often described by those closest to her as selfless. Her abundance of love and kindness would be paramount when entering motherhood, bestowing them to her children, Heaven and William, who she raised on her own. Motherhood allowed her to share her love of travel, music (primarily 90s and 2000s), swimming, and her love of the smell of summer rains with her children and eventually, grandchildren.
Kitzi wasn’t selfish with her love either. It manifested in her professional life, working with the residents of Sunnybrook Assisted Living, where she spent time getting to know each resident on an individual basis, building a sense of familial comradery between staff and residents. Even after her departure, she made it a priority to keep in contact with many of the residents.
On May 6, 2023, Kitzi was blessed to enter a union with the love of her life and best friend, Dawn Michelle Bowman, where they swore their love to each other in front of God, their family and friends. She enjoyed being a wife just as much as being a mother and grandmother.
She was preceded in death by her father, Mark Graham; Yvonne Bedford, grandmother; Charles Weede, grandfather; Mike Weede, uncle; and two aunts, Pam and Bridgette Bedford.
Kitzi leaves to cherish her memories: Her wife, Dawn Bowman of Galesburg; her mother Linda (Steve) Gillis of Kirksville, Missouri; a very loved son, William Hurst, Jr. of Fairfield, Iowa, and a very loved daughter, Heaven Bedford (Alex Wheeler) of Mt. Pleasant, IA. She is also survived by her grandmother Wilma Weede of Mt. Pleasant, Iowa; four grandchildren: Kasen, Eva, Negan, and Meisha; one brother, Kurt Bedford of Palm Springs, California; two sisters, Angela Hopkins of Oskaloosa, Iowa and Kelly Wigfall of Mt. Pleasant, Iowa; four nieces: Katie, Tori, Quiana, and Jenasi; three nephews: Marquis, Nawgie, and Nick; and one cousin, Lacey (Bedford) Savio.
Cremation will be accorded. A celebration of life will be held at a later date. Arrangements have been entrusted to Watson Thomas Funeral Home and Crematory in Galesburg. Memorial contributions may be made to the family. Online expressions of sympathy may be sent to the family at www.watsonthomas.com.
