Dorcas Mae (Sanders) Bowley

Dorcas M. Bowley, 91, entered peacefully into her heavenly home on Friday, September 25, 2020, after being cared for at Mountain Valley Hospice, Gloversville, for five weeks .  She will be lovingly remembered as a mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and for her creativity, ingenuity, and determination.  She worked hard through many adversities and found many beautiful ways to show love for her family and friends.  Her crocheted baby blankets, sturdy pot-holders, knitted mittens, intricate paper-cuttings, pretty pencil holders and special original ceramics will remind us of her for years to come.  She was also an accomplished seamstress, baker, talented painter and avid photographer.  She always wanted to continue learning and built a library of biographies, medical information, and health resource books. 

Dorcas graduated from St. Johnsville High School in 1947 and took Early Education classes at Fulton-Montgomery Community College and Clinton Community College.  Dorcas was a member of Faith, Hope and Love Christian Fellowship and contributed to many charity groups that she valued such as veterans, Native Americans, Boy’s Town and nature conservationists.  She worked at Phil Wick Mills, Clyde Bank Knitting Company, Beech-Nut Foods, St. Johnsville Central School and Beardslee Manor, often holding 2 jobs to support her family.

Dorcas was born on June 20, 1929 and grew up on a beautiful farm owned by her parents Everett and Bessie Sanders on River Road in St. Johnsville.  Her father piloted his own small plane and died in a crash when Dorcas was only 9.   She is pre-deceased by her brothers Tom, Jerry, Howard, her infant son Richard Bowley, daughters Melody Bowley and Kim Stone, her grand-daughter Sandra Bowley and her infant great-grand-daughter Neveah.   She is survived by her sister Lois Simmons, brother George (Jean) Gottung, son David (Norma) Bowley, son Daniel (Ida) Bowley, grand-children Aletha (Jerry) Herring, Daniel (Tasha) Bowley, Mary (Rocky) Rathbun, Lisa (Tim) Mosher, Peter (Stacy) Stone, Joanna (Shaun) Weyer, Melissa Bowley and Elijah Bowley.  She also has 21 great-grand-children and one great-great-grand-child on the way. 

Funeral service will be held at Upstate Chapel, 63 Cliff Street, Canajoharie at 11 a.m. on Friday, October 2, 2020 officiated by Rev. Ethan Waller.  A luncheon will follow at Dorcas’ long-time home, 18 W. Grand St., Palatine Bridge.   Interment will be at the Fort Plain Cemetery. In keeping with the current COVID – 19 regulations facemask and social distancing will be observed.

The family wants to thank the staff of Palatine Nursing Home, Mountain Valley Hospice, St. Johnsville Nursing Home, Albany Med and Bassett Healthcare for caring for Dorcas.  We thank the Lord that she is at peace and pain-free at last.

Arrangements are under the caring guidance of the Vincent A. Enea Funeral Service, (next to the Masonic Lodge), 20 Bridge St., St. Johnsville, NY 13452. 

To send flowers to the family, please visit our floral store.