We miss him
JAKE Bowyer wanted to be a cowboy but a tragic horse riding accident at Strathmay Station west of Pormpuraaw stole the teenager's dream and broke his family's heart.
Family and friends will today say goodbye to the 15-year-old "prankster" affectionately known as "Jacko" and "Old Bird" after a six-week vigil at his bedside at Townsville hospital.
Jake's funeral will be held at the Mareeba Lawn Cemetery today at 11am.
His family have requested all his friends and rodeo buddies attend to celebrate his life.
A memorial service was held in Townsville on Thursday to honour the loving brother, son, uncle and friend and 15 white doves were released to signify his free spirit.
The plucky teenager was rushed to the Townsville hospital by the Royal Flying Doctor Service after his horse broke its leg while he was mustering cattle on the station's airstrip.
Jake hit his head when the horse fell and he never regained consciousness.
He died peacefully on June 21, surrounded by his family and friends.
"We are all still in disbelief," Jake's sister Jolene Martin told The Weekend Post.
"He was a quiet but outgoing guy with a passion for the bush.
"He loved playing pranks, was easygoing and ate everything in sight but he was as skinny as a rake.
"He loved pigging, riding motorbikes, four wheelers and playing sport.
"Jacko was just great and we will miss him so much."
Ms Martin said all Jake dreamed of was returning to Bramwell Station west of Weipa to work as a stockman where his father lived and travelling to America to watch professional bull riders.
"He loved the rodeo and he loved the bush," she said.
"School was not for him and he was doing the RITE (Rural Industry Training and Extension Group) program so he could get all his certificates and work in the bush.
"He just loved it and it was all he ever wanted."
Ms Martin said Jake's death had left a "big hole" in the family but his memory would live on in their hearts and those of his friends.
"It still hasn't hit home that we have lost him," she said.
"Mum spent every day for the last six-and-a-half weeks at the hospital bathing him, caring for him and loving him.
"We now feel so lost without our beautiful son and brother."
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Celebration of life lived to the full: A funeral will be held today for Jake Bowyer, 15, at Mareeba. His family says the teenager always dreamed of being a cowboy, but he died after a tragic horse fall on a Cape York cattle station.
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