Sara "Sally" Stowell, 87, died on May 28, 2013, at her home in Bedford.



Sally was born in Horseheads, New York on March 5, 1926, the fourth child of George A. and Helen M. (Sterling) Turner .



Sally was a graduate of Horseheads High School and Elmira College in New York and where she earned her undergraduate degree in English. She completed her masters degree at Syracuse University.



She began her career as a teacher at Franklin High School in Rochester, New York where she met her husband, the late Edgar B. Stowell. He was teaching math and coaching athletics. They were married in 1954 in Horseheads, NY and shared 53 years together until his death in 2007.



Edgar and Sally moved to Bedford in 1956 after the birth of their son, Donald. Sally and Edgar became members of the First Church of Christ, Congregational and it was during the early1960s that she became a church volunteer while working as a secretary in the Bedford public school system. In the 1970's The Rev. Mr. Perry Haines encouraged her to take on a new staff position at the church.



From 1971 until May of 2007 Sally served The First Church of Christ, Congregational, in Bedford (United Church of Christ) as Coordinator of Christian Nurture, an appellation that sought to raise awareness that "Christian Education" was far more than Sunday School and for all ages, not simply children. In that ministry she embodied the intention of her title as she fostered faith formation in all ages. Wisely guiding curriculum choices, diligently recruiting and empowering lay teachers, gently but vigilantly overseeing infant and toddler nurture, engaging teams of laity in junior and senior high youth groups, and developing a variety of adult program offerings. Her style was collegial; while working tirelessly on visions as well as details on her own, she constantly worked in a collaborative mode with staff, volunteers, and educational connections with other churches as well as with UCC resource persons, and with Bedford's community networks.



With supportive laity from First Church, Sally organized the junior and senior high school youth programs that were initially the main church youth programs in the town, and therefore had a constituency that included a number of Protestant churches' youth as well as youth from The Church of Saint Michael. While creating a meaningful youth program, she made sure that the kids knew that their own churches were their true home base and First Church was an extension of the wider Christian family. It was youth from the seventies who first called her "Grandma Stowell," which led to the rocking chair labeled "Grandma" that was presented to her at the ten-year celebration of her ministry.



Before her ministry with First Church, Sally had been instrumental in the start of a town kindergarten program for Bedford. Her concern for little ones and their parents was strong throughout her life, and under her guidance several church youth who were volunteers developed a significant interest in early childhood care and education. Upon her retirement the church honored her ministry as well as that inspiration and guidance by creating the Sally Stowell Scholarship Fund. The scholarship is for a First Church youth who intends to enter into a career in education.



Many major events marked Sally's time with First Church. Over twenty years ago Sally fostered the beginning of a Mom's Group; many of the initial participants became close friends (and have climbed many mountains over the years). She also encouraged many mission projects in Sunday School and youth programs as well as endeavors by adults. She was helpful in and proud of First Church's growth toward becoming an Open and Affirming congregation. In the later years of her tenure, First Church followed the guidance of the United Church of Christ in establishing a Safe Church policy and practices, including a CORI process with respect to all its programs involving children and youth; for some it was hard to see the need for this, but Sally supported the pastor in pressing for implementation. It inevitably meant more work for her, but she believed in it.



A "behind the scenes" person by firm choice, Sally helped lay groundwork again and again for classes, programs, caregiving, and events that sought to help people grow in faith, learn to love one another, and care about their world. Her quiet listening offered an atmosphere for colleagues to fire up visions, which she would help to anchor and shape by asking the needed questions and focusing attention on the details, not only to create something good and helpful and inspiring but also to make sure that the potential impact upon persons was always taken into account. Her compassionate care for people was always at the heart of her ministry; the number of people who could attest to that truth over more than three decades can hardly be imagined.



Sally is survived by her children, Donald and his wife, Jacqueline of Cumberland, ME, Grace S. Stowell of Cambridge and Thomas and his wife, Kathleen of Sutton, NH, five grandchildren, Daniel and his wife, Caroline, Joanna, Sarah, Anna and Edward and her great granddaughter, Besseggen, four nieces and three nephews, sister-in-law, Maria Turner of Horseheads, NY and brother-in-law, Jack Stowell of Rochester, NY. She was predeceased by her sister, Florence Roy and brothers, George A. Turner Jr. and Robert S. Turner.



A memorial service will be held at the First Church of Christ, Congregational, 25 The Great Rd., Bedford, on Sunday, June 9, at 2:00 P.M. Burial will be private.



In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Sally Stowell Scholarship Fund, The First Church of Christ, Congregational, 25 The Great Rd., Bedford, MA 01730