Bowlin-Cantriel Funeral Home

Moniteau County, Missouri

Bowlin-Cantriel Funeral Home

Initially Est. 1922

In continuous business since Nov. 1937

From the November 25, 1937 California Democrat:

JACK BOWLIN OPENS NEW FUNERAL HOME HERE

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Jack Bowlin held the formal opening Saturday and Sunday of his new funeral home, located in the Dr. W. W. Bourn property at 100 South Oak street.

Mr. Bowlin has furnished the first floor parlors in an exquisite way to provide a chapel and also has his preparation and stock room on that floor. He and Mrs. Bowlin use the second floor for their living quarters.

Mr. Bowlin was in the undertaking business here a number of years, selling out a decade ago and locating in Jefferson City where he and Mrs. Bowlin resided until recently.

From the 1980 History of Moniteau County:

The Bowlin family started in the Undertaking Business in California in 1922. Jack Bowlin, Sr., along with Virgil Morrow, purchased the furniture and undertaking business of Mr. E. C. Nischwitz after his building and business burned. Mr. Morrow later acquired the furniture business and Jack Bowlin, Sr., along with his son Earl, kept the Undertaking. From 1922 to 1927 the Undertaking Establishment was in the building at 301 North High in California's Downtown Business District. In 1938 Jack Bowlin, Sr. purchased Dr. Bourn's home, built in the early 1920's by Mike Kiely and reopened the Funeral Home.

Since 1938 the business has grown at its present location and in 1959 the chapel was added. Jack Bowlin, Sr. died in 1946 so Earl Bowlin, along with his wife Clara, took over the management. In 1958 the business was incorporated with Earl, Clara, Jack and John Bowlin as the officers. In 1976 Earl Bowlin died but the rest of the family are still active [in 1980], along with Carole Beth Bowlin, Janet Bowlin and Randy Howard. Apparently the great-grandchildren of Jack Bowlin, Sr. will pass by the opportunity to be a part of the family enterprise, but there are already six great-great grandchildren so the future still has possibilities.

From the July 17, 1991 California Democrat:

Cantriel's Purchase Bowlin-Cantriel Funeral Services

Douglas and Jo Ann Cantriel are pleased to announce that they have purchased the Bowlin-Cantriel Funeral Home in California, Mo. on July 1, 1991. Douglas and Jo Ann moved to California in 1984 and live in the funeral home. In July 1985 they purchased one-third of the business and were the first people outside of the Bowlin family to own any of the business for over three generations. In 1988, they purchased additional stock and the name was changed to Bowlin-Cantriel Funeral Services, as it appears today. In 1990, additional stock was purchased with the completed purchase projected for 1991.

The business will continue to operate at Bowlin-Cantriel Funeral Services with the same traditional values as it has operated for over 50 years. Douglas and Jo Ann are pleased to announce that Jack Bowlin will remain with the firm.

Douglas is the son of Alice Dittman and the late George Dittman formerly of Bland. He graduated from Bland High School and the Indiana College of Mortuary Science, and is licensed as a Funeral Director/Embalmer. Jo Ann is the daughter of J. L. and Hild Maness of Bland, and a graduate of Belle High School. Mrs. Cantriel received her Funeral Directors license in 1981. They have a son, Douglas J. Cantriel, Jr. and a daughter, Kelly.

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