CHICAGO — A lifelong Bears fan took a parting shot at quarterback Jay Cutler in her obituary.
Elizabeth Porter Bowman, of north suburban Northbrook, died Jan. 9, according to a Tribune obituary. The 78-year-old woman was loyal, intelligent and had integrity, according to the obituary.
She was also not a fan of Jay Cutler.
"She was a woman of loyalty, integrity, opinion, curiosity and intelligence," Bowman's obituary said. "A lifelong fan of the Cubs, Blackhawks and Bears (except Jay Cutler)."
Bowman's dislike of Cutler was a running joke in the family, said her son, Bill. Even toward the end of her life, family members would joke about Cutler, and it was Bill's sister, Susan, who included the jibe in their mother's obituary.
"I think she, as a fan, wanted them to have greater success than she thought Mr. Cutler would help them achieve," Bill Bowman said.
Elizabeth Bowman was passionate about Chicago's teams from the time she was young, taking the "L" to watch Cubs games with her friends when she was 13 and going with her father, a season ticket holder, to Wrigley Field for Bears games. She had season tickets for Bears games until about 10 years ago and was a fan of Walter Payton, Gary Fencik and Mike Singletary.
"She thought Jim McMahon was a little weird, but she found him entertaining," Bill Bowman said.
Elizabeth Bowman's kids would call on the weekends and "she'd complain about the Bears and complain about Jay Cutler." Even after giving up her season tickets, Elizabeth Bowman watched Bears, Blackhawks and Cubs games on TVs and read about them in the papers.
"I think she would've loved to have seen the Cubs' [win the] World Series in her lifetime," Bill Bowman said, "but maybe next year."
Cutler has long been a target of criticism among Bears fans, with even former stars of the Bears' 1985 Super Bowl-winning team taking shots at the quarterback.
The Bears finished last in the NFC North this season with a 6-10 record (which was better than expected).
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