Mark E. Bower, 53, Haverhill Bartender and Short Order Cook

Mark E. Bower, 53, a lifelong Haverhill resident, passed away peacefully on September 18, with his wife Karen and family by his side, after a long battle with cancer.

He was born in Haverhill on Feb. 11, 1965, and was the son of Dr. Arthur Bower and the late Mary (Williams) Bower.
Bower attended Haverhill schools and graduated from Haverhill High in 1983 and attended Providence College. He spent his childhood summers at Seabrook Beach at his family’s summer home, where he enjoyed surfing as a young boy.

He was the cherished husband of Karen (Richardson) Bower. The pair shared 32 years of loving marriage.
Bower loved life and enjoyed every moment of it. He loved golfing, horse racing which he would go to Saratoga Race Track every year with his late brother Stephen Bower. He was a fan of all sports, especially football, which he would travel to Las Vegas every year to watch the Super Bowl with his best friend Michael Kennedy. He especially enjoyed taking rides and going on vacations every chance he could with his wife. Bower worked as a bartender and short order cook at Kelly’s Restaurant in Bradford and The Lasting Room in Haverhill.

In addition to his wife Karen and father Dr. Arthur Bower, his family members include his siblings Arthur Bower, Jr. and wife Linda of Methuen, late brother Stephen Bower and wife Jennifer of Methuen, Margaret (Meg) Corde and husband George of North Salem, N.Y., Elizabeth Bower of Methuen, Dr. Thomas Bower and wife Martha of Newburyport and Brian Bower and wife Jessica of Pittsburgh, Penn., 19 nieces and nephews and 15 great-nieces and nephews which he adored each and every one, mother in-law Dorothy Richardson and brother in-law Alan Richardson of Haverhill, his father Arhur’s significant other Grace Hamilton of Seabrook N.H., several aunts, uncles and cousins. He also leaves his cat Dutchess, who was his best pal.

Visiting hours will be Friday, Sept. 21, in the Driscoll Funeral Home, 309 South Main St., Haverhill from 4-8 p.m. Services will begin Saturday morning in the funeral home at 9 a.m. A Funeral Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated in Sacred Hearts Church, 165 South Main St., Haverhill at 10 a.m. Burial will follow in Linwood Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in Bower’s memory to the Kidney Cancer Research Program, c/o David McDermott 330 Brookline Ave., Boston, MA 02215.