Sandra Ann (Sandy) Thomas Bowles experienced a reunion she has long awaited as she passed peacefully into her rest early December 16, 2025. Waiting alongside her Lord and Savior to greet Sandy were her daughter, Tonya, her grandson, Ryan Hooper, her granddaughter, ShyAnn Hooper, her parents James Wylie (Buster) Thomas and Buena Browning Thomas, two sisters and two brothers. It was a joyous reunion with tears of joy flowing even in a place where all tears are said to be dried, but since these were tears of joy, those tears were allowed.

Sandy was born November 30, 1945 in Orange County, California, the only one of her siblings born in California. Sandy and her family moved back to Texas and lived in the Gribble Springs community outside of Sanger when her father became ill with cancer. Sandy's experience with grief started at a young age when her father passed away. She was seven years old when she first experienced the pain of grief. But the love of a large extended family sustained Sandy from that point and throughout her life. She had the privilege of watching a strong, faithful woman teach her to love her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Sandy was loved and nurtured by her older siblings: Wendell Thomas, Wanda Reed, James Thomas, Buena Rae (Bunny) McWhorter, Jessie Ashby and Rachel Hope.

In 1964, Sandy met her soon to be husband, Dennis (DL) Bowles. She first saw him covered in black dirt driving a tractor plowing a field as she looked out the back door of her sister's house. Jessie found out who that young man was and arranged the introduction. On their first date, DL took Sandy to a rodeo at which Sandy asked if he rode bulls. When DL said he did, Sandy informed him that he didn't ride bulls anymore. DL quit bull riding that night and two weeks later they became engaged. They were married two years later on May 1, 1965.

This marriage joined two large families and led to the birth of Tonya Denise Bowles, Sandra Bowles Hooper and Grant Thomas Bowles. Four grandchildren followed: Ryan Clinton Hooper, Katelyn ShyAnn Hooper, Mckinzie Bowles Johnson (husband Garrett Johnson), Zachary Bowles and one great grandson, Cross Ryan Johnson.

Sandy showed her love through her matchless hospitality and cooking. Throughout her years, Sandy made sure her home was open to all who needed some extra love. Numerous nieces, nephews and friends of her children lived at her house for varying lengths of time. Her cookies were LEGENDARY!  Some might even say life-changing and they will be sorely missed.

Sandy possessed another superpower. She somehow remembered the birthday of all her siblings, parents, in-laws, nieces and nephews. That may not sound like a great achievement until you realize she had over 40 nieces and nephews plus their spouses and kids.

Generations of children spent part of their early life resting on Sandy's shoulders as she rocked them to sleep working in childcare for both the Sanger ISD and First Baptist Church.  She held numerous other jobs besides her most important role of loving wife, mother and grandmother.

Sandy made it very clear that she did not want many flowers at her funeral. The family requests that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the ShyAnn Hooper or Ryan Hooper Memorial Scholarships through the Northwest ISD Education Foundation, or the Bowles Family Endowment being established through the First Baptist Church of Sanger.

A memorial service will be held at First Baptist Sanger on Sunday December 21 at 3 PM with her son, Grant Bowles and nephew, Matt Bowles officiating.