Thomas E. "Tommy"Bower Jr.Haynesville, LA - Funeral services for Mr. Thomas E. "Tommy" Bower Jr., age 88, will be held at 11:00 am, Thursday, March 2, 2017, at the First Baptist Church, Haynesville, LA, with Bro. Jeff Tinsley and Bro. Danny Triplet officiating. Interment will follow in Old Town Cemetery, Haynesville under the direction of Bailey Funeral Home.Visitation will be held Wednesday, March 1, 2017, from 5:00 pm until 7:00 pm at First Baptist Church, Haynesville, LA.Mr. Bower was born on November 17, 1928 to Thomas E. and Marie Pharris Bower in Chloe, LA and passed away on Sunday, February 26, 2017 in Homer, LA. Upon Graduating High school at the age of 16, he went to work for the FBI in Washington D.C. from 1945 -1947 under the direction of J. Edgar Hoover. He worked in the lab and was even instructed to destroy the guns of Maw Barker and John Dillinger. Of which he did. He later returned to Chloe to help his family as his Father became ill. He worked as a floor operator for Farmers Rice Milling Co. On January 8, 1949 he married the love of his life, Claudine W. Bower, who also preceded him in death after 59 years of marriage in 2008. They later moved to Haynesville where they raised their family. He started out as a carpenter and he then worked at the Ammunition Plant in Minden. Later he went to work for Marathon Oil Company as an Electrician for 33 years until his retirement in 1986. He also worked at his own business as Bower Refrigeration, where he worked on Air Conditioners to Freezers. He was a 32 Degree Mason.One of his greatest joys and loves was being on the Haynesville Volunteer Fire Department. He served on the Department for 63 years since November 3, 1953. He held every position there was from Chief on down. He loved everything about it especially the Brotherhood. You made him feel needed and he loved you all as Family.His best role as a man was being a wonderful loving Husband, Father and Poppy. He and Mother taught us, and showed us all what love and marriage was. There wasn't an event in our lives that they weren't behind us all the way. Whether it was a sporting event to go to, being a Scout Leader or helping show the cows at the Livestock Shows, he was there. After retirement he even helped raise and run after the Grand Babies. Now he has Great Grand Babies that he enjoys.He is survived by his daughter, Mitzi Sterritt and husband, Mike of Tyler, TX; two sons, Buddy Bower and wife, Margo of Haynesville, Jim Bower and wife, Sandra of Haynesville, nine grandchildren, Tammie Lowe, Michael Sterritt, James Rivers, Mandy Bower, Lindsey Ward, Ben Bower, Beau Bower, Maggie Punch, and Hunter Bower; and eighteen great-grandchildren.Mr. Bower was preceded in death by his parents, and wife, Claudine W. Bower.Pallbearers will be Dr. Sam Abshire, Mark Furlow, Wes Ogden, Shane Ware, Justin Childress, and Billy Wayne Taylor. Honorary pallbearers will be members of the Haynesville Fire Department.Sign our online guest book at www.baileyfuneralhome.net