Sandra Bowers

1950 - 2016

Sandra W. Bowers, 66

Holden - Sandra W. (Reed) Bowers of Holden, passed away peacefully at Miriam Hospital in Providence, Rhode Island with her loving family by her side. Sandy was 66 years old. Born and raised in LaFayette, Georgia, Sandy was the daughter of the late John A. and Zehpyr K. (Johnson) Reed and attended Hatboro – Horsham High School in Pennsylvania.

As a senior in high school, Sandy was invited to attend the University of Pennsylvania's advance student program. While living in Pennsylvania, Sandy met and dated Charles "Chuck" Bowers, and was reunited with him several years later in California. They were married June 28, 1969 in Monrovia, California and together they raised their two children while they embarked on a career in the United States Navy. Serving as a Navy pilot, Chuck often traveled to undisclosed destinations throughout the world while Sandy held down the home and nurtured the children and taught them valuable life lessons. They have lived in Key West, FL, Coronado, CA, Pensacola, FL and Williamsburg, VA before moving to Holden in 1986.

After settling in Holden with her family, Sandy decided that it was time for her to advance her studies and enrolled at the University of Massachusetts in Amherst where she received both her Bachelor's and Master's degree in art history. She was a talented textile artist and also enjoyed working with watercolors and oils. She visited museums and studied fine art in France, Austria and Italy. Sandy was able to understand the arts at a deeper - emotional level than most and enjoyed sharing her gift with others. As her daughter Heather described her mother's talent, "She created art as part of the human process." She later took up photography and in her travels took tens of thousands of photos only to select a handful for her collection. As an artist, Sandy was a perfectionist with high expectations of herself driven only by the desire to uniquely capture the essence of the moment.

Sandy was a true lover of nature and could be found gardening at her home in Holden. She was a Master Horticulturist and was an active member of the Massachusetts Horticultural Society. She taught courses and conducted seminars at the Annual Boston Flower Show and traveled throughout New England lecturing. Sandy will be profoundly missed by her friends of the Holden Woman's Club where she was an active member for over thirty years.

She possessed true empathy for animals. Sandy served on the board of directors of B.O.N.E.S. (Beagles of New England), a rescue, adoption and referral organization for beagles. Keeping true to her nature, Sandy adopted three beagles by the names of Henry, Shamrock and Maja.

First and foremost, Sandy was a "renaissance women" who passionately engaged herself in her family's life and held steadfast to her values and beliefs. She was her family's biggest cheerleader and leaves them with a legacy of love and devotion. She will be remembered for her simple elegance and grace, and will be sorely missed by those who were blessed to have known her.

She is survived and will be lovingly missed by her husband of almost 47 years, Charles Bowers, III, Captain (USN, Retired); her daughter, Heather L. Sapia and her husband, Jose of Duxbury and their two daughters Thalia and Seneca; her son, C. David Bowers and his wife, Michele of Worcester; a brother, Rick Reed of Long Beach, CA; a sister, Ann Reed Rivera of McCall, Idaho; nephews and nieces.

Relatives and friends are invited to visit Sandy's family from 3 to 5 pm on Sunday, June 5, at the Miles Funeral Home, 1158 Main St., Holden. A funeral service honoring and celebrating her life will be held at 11 am on Monday, June 6, at the funeral home. Interment will follow at 1 pm at the Massachusetts Veteran's Memorial Cemetery in Winchendon. In lieu of flowers, her family kindly requests donations be made in Sandy's name to the Holden Woman's Club, c/o Treasurer, 28 Flagler Dr., Holden, MA 01520. To share a memory or offer a condolence, please visit

www.milesfuneralhome.com