Gena Bouquet

Gena Bouquet (born Genevieve Cull), age 86, of Cottonwood, AZ., passed away on May 30, 2012, at home surrounded by art and filled with the love of friends and family. She was born in Chandler, Oklahoma, and spent much of her early life in the Los Angeles Basin. During WWII, she worked along side other patriotic women of the "Rosie the Riveter" generation and used her skills to support America in the war. Gena spent her life in a quest for knowledge and beauty. She traveled to India to satisfy her thirst for spiritual growth, swam with dolphins and studied mystic traditions in Peru. Gena did extensive work to help her spiritual "families" in Tibet and on the Hopi Nation. Gena was an accomplished artist who did portraiture at Disneyland and Knott\u0027s Berry Farm, and studied under many of the Southwest\u0027s most prominent regional artists. She received her official clown degree from the Ringling Brothers Barnum and Baily School of Clowns. When she was not teaching art to elementary school children, the joy of her life, you could find her rapt in meditation, dancing with the Sufis or up to her elbows in a fresh round of paintings or sculpture! Gena was a 40-year survivor of breast cancer. Her step was lively and her laugh was joyful to her last days. Her marriage to Steven Downer produced three children, Christina Downer, Steven (Sunny) Downer and William K Downer. She is survived by her two sons, her grandsons Bodhi Downer, Loren Downer, Jess Downer and grand-daughter Melany Stodelle and four great-grandchildren. Services will be held at 1 p.m. on Sunday, June 10 2012 at the Old Town Center For The Arts (928) 634-0940 in Cottonwood AZ with Reverend Bruce Kellog officiating. In lieu of flowers, friends are encouraged to support three non-profit charities selected by the family. Information can be had from her nephew, Martin Kim, at [email protected]. An online guestbook is available at www.westcottfuneralhome.com