“Fish Mary “as she was known locally, passed away peacefully on 9/23/08 at the Florida Medical Center Vitas Hospice with her loving family at her bedside. Mary was born in a small farming community of Springhill La. Her mother , Irene and father Oscar Nichols had seven children, she was the eldest daughter .With four older boys , Sir Rupert, Jf and Junior. And one of the boys passing in childhood. Her younger sisters are Bess and Betty. From an early age Mary had the wanderlust and wanted to get away. Mary landed in Shreeveport La. and married early . Then after having two children her husband deserted her. Desperate, Mary returned home with her small children Max and Ann, entrusting them to her uncle and aunt Willie and Claire Cheatham. Willie and Claire raised and loved Max and Ann as thier own children. Mary went back out in the world to experience life and grow as a person. During the War she worked in Munitions plants, Waited tables, Played professional sports,Basketball and Baseball. She could sit for hours and tell you of the adventures she had traveling the country. After a few years she landed in Miami Beach where she married my father Robert Bowman. Mary's father loved to fish , So I guess that it might have been something she was destined for. Mary found her calling as a fisherman. Mary's exploits and adventures on Miami Beach are the stuff of legends. She worked on the South Beach Fishing pier selling live bait that she caught herself. Mary would fish any chance she got. She also loved the dog track at night, with the excitement and chance of fast money. Situated at the foot of the Pier it was a natural fit. Mary and Robert had three children Robin (1948), Susan (1952) and me Robert (1956). Mary and Robert's "Bob" life was not storybook as I remember. Tumultuous at best. But thats what happens when you live fast and play hard. Bob's life was cut short by lung cancer at a very young age. Once again on her own with three children Mary could only do so much. She fell back on her family in Texas for support. Taking Susan and Robert out to the Panhandle to live ,Robin was old enough to be out on her own. After about a year we all moved back to South Beach , but Susan wanted to live at a girls boarding school called Bethany. Mom , Me and my nephew "Tony" lived, played and fished on South Beach for quite a few years more. Mary retired in 1976 to pursue her love of fishing full time in the Florida Keys back country creeks and passes. In 1977 Mary was featured on the Hugh Downs TV show “Over Easy”. She took Hugh fishing and then went to California to do the studio interview. "Fish Mary" was a Keys legend and Icon. She will be remembered for many years to come. Mary was an active member of the V.F.W., Moose and American Legion in the Key Largo area. Mary also worked for the Keys Reporter in the distribution department. Mary is survived by her younger sisters Betty Casadas and Bess Lankford of Texas. Her children, Max Richman Cheatham and Elizabeth Ann Dickson, of Arkansas. Robert Bowman, of Davie and Susan Bowman, of South Dade. Tony, Dawn, Angelica and Grace Mary Ansley, of Orlando. Robin, Rachel, Amanda, and Mariah Drotar of Merritt Island. Mary also leaves behind a large number of grand children, great grandchildren as well as great great grandchildren and other relatives and friends.