Kelly Marie Bowles-James

Kelly Bowles James, 50, of Olympia, WA, passed away May 29, 2026, due to health complications. Born March 16, 1976, in Salem, OR, she is the daughter of Connie Marie Bowles and Alan Lin Bowles.

Kelly attended Shelton High School, Class of 1994. She completed training in Dental Assisting and Dental Hygiene in Tacoma, WA while raising her two sons and worked in the field of Dentistry for the past 28 years.

Kelly was a force of nature whose presence was simultaneously thrilling and comforting. She was a vibrant, energetic soul whose stubborn streak only made her more endearing. As one of six siblings, she brought endless life and laughter to the family. If there was a family gathering, Kelly would be the one to bring enough food to feed the masses. Having fun built into her DNA, she loved gathering with her parents and siblings, which was always apparent by the way she lit up the room with her 1000-watt smile. A true go-getter, she was always dreaming up the next adventure and rallying everyone together, whether it was a camping trip, a day at the beach, or a skydiving excursion.

Kelly loved raising her sons and shared her love of adventure with her oldest, Alex, when they learned scuba diving together. She also shared a love of cooking with her youngest son, Ian, and was proud of his famed Mac and Cheese recipe.

Kelly’s nieces and nephews also shared a special bond with her. She was the kind of aunt who conspired with them to sneak forbidden ice cream after dark or scarf down cotton candy before they could be caught. She taught her nieces her cupcake recipes and was described as “Quick, demanding, and expected the girls to keep up!” And should a nephew ever cower against his paintball opponents, he could count on Aunt Kelly to pick up his gun and fire at the enemy, leading them to victory.

Another group that could argue that they were the most-loved in Kelly’s life would be… dogs. Not just her dogs, but all dogs. She loved and rescued many dogs throughout her life and had such a special empathy and connection to them that to call her a “dog lover” would be an understatement.

Kelly cared deeply about everyone and went out of her way to help loved ones and strangers alike. She had an infectious personality that drew people in and made them feel loved and welcomed. She was deeply loved in return, and her friendships were a beautiful reflection of the warmth and joy she brought to every room. Her impact in her shortened life was striking and beautiful and nothing will be the same without her.

Kelly was predeceased by her grandparents Boyd Franklin Bowles, Mildred Esther Thomas, Milan Alton Nutter, and Sherry Ann Nutter

She is survived by her sons, Alex and Ian James; her parents Connie and Alan Bowles; her siblings Jill Hess (Duane), Mark Bowles, Trisha Bowles, Casey Bowles (Alisa), and Corey Bowles (Amber); her grandmother Caroline Bowles; her dog Mack

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, June 20, at 2pm at the LDS Lacey Stake Center at 1602 Ruddell Road SE, Lacey, WA