Susan Kay Bowers, née Rankin, 80, of Mooresville, N.C., passed away on Sunday, August 14, 2022. She was born on June 7, 1942, in Cedar Falls, Iowa, to the late Robert and Margaret Flint Rankin.

Throughout Susan’s life, she was focused on leaving a legacy and making a positive impact on those around her. She came to a personal relationship with Jesus Christ in 1983, pursuing Him relentlessly and changing the course of her life as well as many others.

Sue delighted in the worship services and her fellowship with the members of Calvary Baptist Church in Statesville, N.C., where she was a member.

“Joyful,” “a light,” “loving” and “spunky” are words often used to describe her. She was funny, loved a good laugh and woke up with a smile on her face. Susan enjoyed learning and teaching. She obtained three master’s degrees in education and served as a special education teacher and school principal for over 30 years. She was also a leader in Bible Study Fellowship for several decades and considered the study life changing. In her spare time, she enjoyed knitting, sewing, reading, and exercising. However, her all-time favorite activity was definitely shopping. Anyone that knows her would consider her gifted in this area. She loved all people and animals. In fact, as dementia stole her vocabulary, the words she never lost were “I love you,” which she stated clearly and often to anyone she met. She loved her family and will be deeply missed by all who knew her.

In addition to her parents, she is preceded in death by her sister-in-law, Rosemary Peterson.

She is survived by her loving husband of 56 years, William “Bill” Thomas McCoy Bowers; adoring children, William “Bill” Robert Bowers and Tara Bain (Colin); brother, Jack Rankin (Linda) of Santa Fe; grandchildren, Parker, Avery, and Mason Bain, Rebecca and Andrew Bowers; best friend and cousin Tinka Greenwood (Clyde); and loving niece Tania Knowd (Greg); and special friends, Perry and Betty McCoy, Freddie and Louise Meyers.

The family will receive friends from 4 to 6 p.m. on Wednesday, August 24, 2022, at Cavin-Cook Funeral Home in Mooresville, N.C.

A graveside service will be held at 1 p.m. MST Monday, September 12, 2022, at The United States Air Force Academy Cemetery in Colorado Springs, Colo. A reception will follow directly following the service.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Susan’s name to Hospice & Palliative Care Carolina Region, who served Susan and her family with grace, dignity, and compassion in her final days; the family is forever grateful.

Cavin-Cook Funeral Home, Mooresville, is serving the Bowers family. Condolences may be made to the family at www.cavin-cook.com.