ALCOA, Tenn. (WVLT) - Friends and family gathered Wednesday morning to pay their last respects to an Alcoa Police Officer who passed away suddenly over the weekend. Officer Ed Bowman died suddenly of natural causes.

Bowman was known for his work as a K-9 officer, father, and community leader. Many in Alcoa consider Bowman not only a police officer but a friend.

"There's not many people who did not know who Ed Bowman was. He was not a big tall guy in stature but he had a heart that was the size of Texas," said Alcoa Elementary Principal Merna Schott.

Schott says Bowman would often come by her school and socialize with the kids.

Best friend and fellow officer, Sgt. Keith Fletcher, said Bowman spent 12 years with the Alcoa Police Department. He said the family is holding up as best they can.

"That was just him he loved to go eat with the children. He an I both would go eat with those kids at the elementary school there and those kids just love it," said Fletcher. "I met him when he walked through the door basically. Ed was just a joy to work with he never met a stranger. He just knew everybody, he knew everybody's names."