Simon Bowles

Simon Charles Bowles entered the world without fear or hesitation on February 26, 2022. The same cannot be said for his (first-timer) parents, as Simon was just over ten weeks early. From the very beginning of his eventful start in the delivery room, Simon saw that it takes a village and faith to get through life. A skilled and kind team at St. Luke’s Hospital of Kansas City NICU cared for Simon every day. Simon’s life lasted eighteen full days and every single one was memorable.

Simon’s life was full of love, curiosity, kindness, faith and community. His 2.5 lb. body contained a large personality that drew people to him. Simon opened new levels of joy for his parents when they held him in their arms.  His grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins checked in on him constantly on “Simon TV,” a webcam stream where they could watch him kick, wiggle and wave. He evoked smiles and a desire to know more in everyone - more about the extremely rare disease that ended his life early and most importantly more about who Simon was becoming each day and what God was teaching through him.

Throughout his life, Simon collected community around his isolette and enjoyed being the center of attention as conversation passed around him. He watched his Jayhawks win the Big 12 championship and celebrated both his grandmothers’ birthdays. He was blessed by the sacrament of baptism and by tidal waves of prayers from around the world. Like his parents, he liked books and songs. He was a person of simple pleasures - a full belly, a nice massage, a good snooze, a bedtime story, and the love of his people.

When Simon left this world on March 16, he was surrounded by family and friends in the creative ways a NICU baby can be these days. Simon had his parents and grandparents nearby, with friends and family in the park outside his window gathered to pray, connect, support and love.

Simon put his parents Jonathan and Bridget Bowles (Overland Park, KS) through a crash course on how to be parents. They will treasure every parenthood lesson he taught them alongside every smile, snuggle, and wide-eyed gaze. His grandparents Bob and Marla Bowles (Lawrence, KS) and Harold and Susan Lamb (Exton, PA) will cherish the memory of their time with him and learn from his strength. Aunts, uncles, and cousins Blake, Katie, Dottie and Jamie Larson (Dallas, TX), Sheldon, Angela, Caleb, Connor and Lucas Lamb (Abington, PA) and Craig, Caity, Harper and Alex Lamb (Rydal, PA) will carry his legacy and always have a special reason to play ‘Simon Says’. Simon was lucky to be loved by extended family, neighbors, church community and friends too numerous to count. They may never have met face-to-face, but the love was still strongly felt on all sides.

When Simon left this world, he was greeted into eternity by Jesus and a welcoming committee of some of the best: great grandparents Nancy Lamb, John Lamb, Leonard and Margaret Ann Weinand, Robert and Margaret Bowles, James and Clara Cottle and other cherished friends and relatives.

There will be a celebration of life for Simon on Friday, March 25 at the Overland Park Chapel, 8201 Metcalf Ave., Overland Park, 66204. Visitation begins at 1 p.m. followed by a service at 2 p.m. The service will be livestreamed, please go down below the service information and click on: "This Service Will Be Live Streamed",  Please feel free to wear colors as we celebrate Simon’s short but impactful life.

In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to either St. Luke’s Hospital of Kansas City or Great Plains SPCA. Simon got to be visited by his sweet rescue pup Benny outside one day and he certainly was familiar with his loud barks of love.