Jerry and Elaine Bowlin
In Town: “Seven years ago my wife, Elaine, and I bought Grandma’s House Café in Winslow, Ark., from my wife’s mother. We used to be open six days a week but found we were better off doing all the cooking and stuff ourselves, so we cut it down to Thursday through Sunday. Originally the café was a house, but my wife’s mother converted it into a café in the early ’90s.”
In the Country: “We have 81 acres on White Rock Mountain in Crawford County. When my wife and I first married and moved up here, we lived on an acre and a half. Then when Elaine’s father retired and offered his 400 acres to his children for purchase, we purchased our first 41 acres and later bought the adjoining 40 acres that belonged to Elaine’s mother. I’ve always had show chickens and horses. I also had cows for most of my life, but now we are back to just horses and chickens and our Café, our slowed-down retired life.”
Retirement Time: “What I really enjoy about being retired from Tyson is not having to get up for the hustle and bustle of work every day. My youngest son, Caleb, is 17, and a junior in high school in Mountainburg. My two other children are grown, and I have grandchildren that I really enjoy. They love coming out to the farm where we play and enjoy the country life. I have had some heart issues and have learned to fully enjoy every single day.”
Story and Photo by Terry Ropp
