Laurel Ann Bowman, 44, of Highland Avenue, Ipswich, partner of Mary Rich, died Monday,  January 26, 2009 in the Lahey Clinic, Burlington following her brief illness.

Born in Needham November 25, 1964, daughter of  Charles H. and Joan M. (McClellan) Bowman of Virginia Beach, VA, she was raised in Dennis and was a 1982 graduate of the Dennis Yarmouth High School and an English and Communication Major at Bridgewater State College.

Laurel was the founder and CEO of the Conversion Group, Inc., a digital marketing and development agency which she owned and operated to date. She also founded and was the Creative Director of Red 98 Interactive Agency.  Earlier in her career she was a Vice President, Creative Director at Ingalls Interactive,  starting her marketing career as a copywriter at Cabot  Advertising.

A musician, Laurel was a songwriter, lead vocalist, guitarist and drummer  in the Boston based bands The Proletariat  and The Lumen Band. She was a graduate of Improv Boston and was a member of the troupe The Garamondo Files. For three years she served as  a Board member with the Boston Modern Orchestra Project.

In addition to her partner of  thirteen years  and her parents, she is survived by a brother John M. Bowman and his wife Rachelle of Martinsville, IN; a nephew Sean Patrick Bowman, and  a niece Sierra Rachelle Bowman both of IN; three uncles, William McClellan of Chatham, John McClellan of Canton and John Bowman of S. Yarmouth and six cousins.

Family and friends are welcomed to visiting hours Friday January 30 from 5 to 8 pm at the Whittier-Porter Funeral Home, 6 High Street, Ipswich. Her funeral service will be private. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in her name may be made to the Ipswich Humane Group, P.O. Box 873, Ipswich, MA 01938.