Nancy Lee Bowers

On June 27, 2023 we lost our matriarch and mentor Nancy Lee Bowers after a long hard fight with Head and Neck Cancer at the age of 76, surrounded by her family.

Nancy was born October 30, 1946, in the town of Ithaca, NY. She was the daughter of the late Gordon Harvey Kline and Marion Louise Kline. Nancy grew up in Trumansburg, New York and graduated from Charles O'Dickerson High School in 1964.

As an adult Nancy worked for True Insurance and later for Cornell University Natural Resources Department for 30+ years, retiring in 2005 when she was first diagnosed with cancer. Nancy met her lifelong love Ronald Bowers during a dance, where it was said Ronald told many friends "that was the girl he was going to marry". Then on August 21, 1965, Ronald and Nancy did exactly that in a small parish in Perry City, NY. Nancy then had three children that she adored and supported with all the crazy activities they had. She was the biggest fan club for her children and grandchildren During her spare time Nancy would do what she loved the most, which was sewing. She created, produced several clothes for her children, herself and friends that knew of her talent. Her best achievement in design was the wedding gowns she made for her daughters and her bags that she created later in life.

Nancy had many things she created from clothing, bags/purses, to upholstering and adding life to old pieces of furniture, to painting and drawing. She loved to watch her favorite Soap Opera "Days of Our Lives", crossword puzzles, coloring and sharing the photos back and forth with her mother and children, She loved to watch NASCAR and support her favorite driver Darryl Waltrip. She loved to listen to Elvis Presley, Billy Ray Cyrus and Dwight Yoakam. Nancy was an avid bowler with her highest score 279 at Tri-County Lanes. Nancy was a small quiet little lady but boy did she have a sassy, energetic side, she had a great sense of humor, loved and cherished her family and friends, willing to do anything for anyone.

Nancy is survived by her spouse of 59 years: Ronald Bowers of Trumansburg-NY, her children: Ronde L (Bill) Potter of Trumansburg, NY; Deanna (Kevin) Mills of Ovid, NY; Joshua Ryan (Amanda) Bowers of US Navy, her grandchildren: Jessica (Cortney) Dudgeon, Anthony (Ashley) Whitaker, Matthew (Bryan) Whitaker, Daniel Mills, Haleigh Mills, Shawn Bowers; one great grandchild Hunter James Whitaker with two more on the way in August. Nancy is also survived by her siblings - David (Sandy) Kline of Crystal River-FL, Robert (Debbie) Kline of Inverness-FL, Lisa Kline of Redondo Beach-CA. She is also survived by her sister-in-laws Janice Towner, and Kathleen Shisler, brothers-in-laws - Gerald Guack, Michael Bowers, William Bowers. Nancy is also survived by her lifelong friends Ed and Alice Rodabaugh. She is survived by several aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, cousins and many friends with whom she loved very much and held each and every one in a special place in her heart.

Nancy was preceded in death by her parents - Gordon Harvey Kline (8/1989); Marion Louise Kline (6/1/2023), mother and father-in-law - Milton Daniel Bowers (12/1970) and Jesse Hagadorn Bowers (1993), sister Linda Clark (2012); Aunt Jayne Thompson (2020); nephew Gerald "Jerry" Clark (2016).

There will be a Celebration of Life in honor of Nancy Bowers and her mother Marion Kline on July 15th, 2023 at Interlaken Rod Club from 1:00-4:00pm. Nancy will spend her eternal life at Jones Cemetery Trumansburg, NY, overlooking a valley of trees and flowers with a white picket fence. In lieu of flowers you can donate in Nancy’s memory to Rochester Regional Health Foundations, 330 Monroe Avenue, Suite 400 Rochester, NY 14607.