Anne (Bowen) Follis

Anne Bowen Follis passed away August 28, 2023 in Nokomis, Illinois surrounded by family and Scripture
after fighting a long battle with Parkinson’s disease and dementia.
Anne joined God’s beautiful world on August 22, 1947, born to Don and Leona Bowen in Albany, NY. She
was educated in Cherry Hill, NJ and attended Houghton College for one year before returning to home to
work as a secretary. She married Daniel Dean Follis on August 24, 1968. The two moved to Illinois and
began what would become over 50 years in ministry together.
Anne was passionate about sharing the love of Jesus with others. She spent her life working alongside
her husband in ministry. Anne was a leader in churches throughout central Illinois. She was a student
and teacher of the Bible and she loved to worship her Savior in song as a worship leader.
In the 1970s, Anne became a leader for the ERA movement and was a founding member and president
emerita of HERA, Homemaker’s Equal Rights Association. She became a national speaker and was
featured on talk shows, at state legislatures, and radio stations across the country. Anne wrote the
bestseller, I’m Not a Woman’s Libber, But… in 1981. She later returned to school and graduated from
Blackburn College with a degree in English. Anne owned her own resume business, Career Pro, in Peoria
for 20 years. She published the book, How to Power Pack Your Job Search in 1997. She retired in 2010 to
spend more time with her family and grandchildren.
Anne is the proud mother of Troy (Abby) Follis, Ryan (Tara) Follis, and Megan (Paul) McQuellon and the
grandma of eight grandchildren. Always a kid at heart, she cherished her time with all of them. Anne is
survived by her beloved husband, Dean, and her two sons, Troy and Ryan. She was met at heaven’s gate
by her daughter, Megan Jean, who preceded her in 2015.
Her life will be celebrated at Crosspoint Church, 400 S. Pleasant Hill Rd, East Peoria IL, on Saturday,
September 9th. A visitation will begin @10am with a Memorial Service to follow at 11am. Anne
requested bright colors and balloons at her funeral because, in her words, “my funeral is not a sad
occasion; it’s a party for my homecoming with Jesus.”
Memorials can be made to the First Baptist Church in Nokomis to support future Women in Ministry.

Online condolences can be left at stiehldawsonfh.com

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