Michael Douglas "Bugsy" Bowyer died on February 2, 2018.

Born on October 6, 1958, in Charleston, West Virginia, Bugsy grew up in Albemarle County, Virginia, with his three brothers, two sisters, and revered parents.

Bugsy loved life and was generous in sharing his energy, intelligence, and resources with family, friends, and strangers. As a child, he wrote, directed, and performed in plays to amuse his brothers and sisters (one production was entitled "The Grizzly that Wasn't" and involved a stuffed toy mountain lion), intermittently operated a restaurant (featuring the Bugsy Burger), preached the occasional sermon, acted as "The Presenter" (making gifts to his brothers and sisters for no particular reasons), and watched over the family's safety, once rescuing a puppy which had fallen through pond ice. As a child, he gave to Save the Children; as an adult, he quietly continued to make charitable donations and gave generously to family and friends. He was a tireless worker and an inveterate businessman: in his teens, he formed a handyman services business, B Services ("Busy as a B"); as an adult, he established Mirage Carpet Care and operated it for over 20 years. He was, indeed, the Big B, and his brothers and sisters know his theme song by heart: "He's the Big B, he's the Big B, he's the biggest, most won-der-full-est, B-ee-ee-ee...". He believed that you should always leave a person better than you found him, and his legions of devoted friends reflect his faithful adherence to that principle. He had a natural gift with all animals, and he adored his rabbits, caring tenderly for many generations of these fragile creatures.

His parents and an older brother predeceased him.

He is survived by two brothers, two sisters, and eleven nieces and nephews. The family is grateful to Beverly Spring for her kind and steadfast care of Bugsy over the last year and thanks his many other friends who were central to his life these last few years.

There will be no services. A celebration of his life will be held on Saturday, February 24, 2018, from 4 until 7 p.m., at Rolling Brook Village, 1881 Sugar Hill Drive, Woodbridge, VA 22192.

If you wish to make a gift in his honor, please consider the Falls Church office of Capital Caring Hospice. (www.capitalcaring.org).

Submitted by Sam Clarke.