Rita Jo (Link) Bownes, 57, died Oct. 12, 2016, at Via Christi St. Francis Regional Medical Center in Wichita. Born April 13, 1959, at Great Bend, she was the daughter of Kenneth J. and Shirley J. (Wallace) Link. On Aug. 11, 1978, she married Lynn Bownes, at Ellinwood. A lifetime Great Bend resident, she owned Beer 30 Drinking Hole. She enjoyed NASCAR, especially Carl Edwards, dachshunds, 4-H, her many friends and time with her grandchildren.
Mrs. Bownes was a member of Prince of Peace Parish at St. Patrick Catholic Church, Altar Society, and “The Tribe.”
Survivors include her husband, Lynn Bownes, of the home; her parents, Kenneth and Shirley Link of Great Bend; two sons, Ryan Bownes and his wife Staci of Great Bend, and Derek Bownes and his wife Ashley of Holcomb; one daughter, Kalesha Schartz and her husband Matt of Garden City; two sisters, Linda Meyeres and husband Jim of Chase, and Denise Barbour and husband Jack of San Angelo, Texas; and four grandchildren, Mikayla, Brenna, Mae Lynn and Emeri. She was preceded in death by two brothers, Mark Allen Link and Kent Eugene Link.
Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Monday, Oct. 17 at St. Patrick Catholic Church in Great Bend with Father Ted Stoecklein celebrating. Burial will be in Eden Valley Cemetery in rural Seward. Altar Society Rosary will be held at 4 p.m. and vigil service will be held at 7 p.m. on Sunday, both at Bryant Funeral Home. Friends may call from 1-9 p.m. on Sunday at the funeral home. Memorials have been established with the Rita Bownes Memorial to help with expenses or Zimmerman-Bownes Relay for Life, in care of the funeral home. Condolences may be sent and notice viewed at www.bryantfh.net.

Funeral arrangements provided by
Bryant Funeral Home*
1425 Patton Road
Great Bend, KS 67530
Great Bend (Kan.) Tribune, Oct. 14, 2016