Tough Jobs: Bowser-Johnson Funeral Chapel
Bowser-Johnson Funeral Chapel serves people at a very emotional time in their lives. Their mission is to provide a memorable service, with compassion for the living and dignity for the departed.
The original business, Bowser Mortuary, was established in 1920. In 1976, Larry D. and Harriet Johnson purchased the business and renamed it Bowser-Johnson Funeral Chapel. Mr. Johnson passed away in 2017, but his life’s work carries on with the next generation.
"Nobody likes to think about dying, but when we see that someone passes away and no one was prepared...it's up to the funeral director to help the family," said Harriet Johnson
“This was Larry’s ministry,” Harriet Johnson said. “This was the work that he always wanted to do.”
The couple’s son, Amri Johnson, serves as the President of the Board of Directors for Bowser-Johnson. He agrees that his father dedicated his life to building the business that still serves the Topeka area today.
“My dad wanted to lay his legacy and build a business on integrity and community,” Amri Johnson said. “Going forward, it’s important to have people at the helm of this company who can continue that, who are committed to community. My dad emphasized that a lot before he passed on, and that’s something we''ll always honor.”
Tamyra Clark is the current Funeral Director and embalmer, and she’s also Larry and Harriet Johnson’s Goddaughter. She has been doing the job for about 10 years.
“I’ll do whatever is needed to keep the business going,” Clark said. “I believe my Uncle’s legacy needs to live on. I’ve always known that eventually this is what I would do. I tried some other jobs, even earned a CNA, but everything kept happening to redirect me this way.”
Amri Johnson agrees. “Tammy has allowed that legacy to continue,” he said. “She’s a part of our family, and she grew up here in Topeka, so she knows this community.”
Harriet Johnson, owner of Bowser-Johnson Funeral Chapel and her son Amri, president of the funeral home's board of directors, ensure the funeral home continues the legacy of Harriet's late husband who spent his life building the business
Clark and the Johnsons agree that the biggest advice they can share with their community is to prepare for the inevitable.
“Nobody likes to think about dying,” Harriet Johnson said. “We don’t prepare for death, we prepare for life. But when we see that someone passes away and no one was prepared, that’s when the anger and disagreements come out. It’s up to the funeral director to help the family look at alternatives and make a decision that’s comfortable for everyone. Larry had a gift for helping families in this way, and Tammy has that gift, too.”
“I stress the importance of information,” Clark said. “Know the difference in whole life and term life, and insure your kids as early as possible.”
Amri Johnson recommends sitting down with the staff at Bowser-Johnson to plan ahead. He says that Clark is willing to chat with people and offer guidance, even if they do not plan to work with Bowser-Johnson services.
“Learn about what you need to do when someone passes,” he said. “Set up a time to sit and talk with Tammy. It makes the loss of a loved one a lot more peaceful because arrangements are made and you can focus on mourning. It also allows a person to share their wishes with friends and family, so that their preferences will be known. Sometimes you need a friendly person to talk to, and that’s part of the service we offer to the community.”
Not surprisingly, the work of serving families after a death comes with its share of challenges.
“We just buried a baby, who was only seven weeks old,” said Clark. “I think that was one of the hardest services we’ve ever done. We held the wake and also a graveside service. He was beautiful, and of course his parents couldn’t have been prepared to lose him.”
Another challenge is serving families and offering support in their time of need, while also keeping the business viable. Bowser-Johnson has a corporate board like any business, and has to balance their budget. Harriet Johnson says that for Larry, people came first, and numbers came after.
Larry Johnson started out as a student, back when the business was still the Bowser Mortuary, and in the years after Johnson purchased the business and took over leadership, he trained many others.
“Often the family wasn’t prepared,” Harriet Johnson said, “and didn’t have many resources, and he would work with them to figure out what we could do.”
Clark says that every family is different, and the most important thing is to listen.
“We let the family talk it out, answer their questions, and offer guidance,” Clark said. “Then we draft and redraft a contract as many times as needed to make sure that everyone is comfortable.”
For those drawn to the work of servicing families at a time of great need, during the loss of a loved one, Clark extends a hand.
“Bowsers were running this business in Kansas since the 1920’s, and the business has always taken students,” Clark said.
Larry Johnson started out as a student, back when the business was still the Bowser Mortuary, and in the years after Johnson purchased the business and took over leadership, he trained many others. Amri Johnson recommends that those who are interested in this work come to have a chat with Clark over a cup of coffee, to learn more about what the job entails.
“My husband gave his life for this business,” Harriet Johnson said. “Even after retirement, he couldn’t stay away. This was his life. And we’re going to keep on keeping on. Training more students, serving more families.”
