Mary Bowler

Mary N. R. Bowler, 88, passed away peacefully, surrounded by her sons and friends, on June 27, 2021. She arrived in the world on February 18, 1933, in Norway, Maine the third daughter of Eleanor Jane (Brown) and Philip Tubbs Noble.

Mary graduated as Salutatorian from Norway High School in 1950. She attended the University of Maine, Orono, receiving her degree in medical technology in 1955. While attending the university, she met and fell in love with her first husband, Dr. Gleason Albert Rand, Jr. They were married in Bangor in 1955, and moved to Fort Dix, NJ, where Gleason was stationed as a Lieutenant with the U. S. Army, where their first son, Gleason “Gary” A. Rand III was born. After returning to Bangor, their second son, Stephen Philip was born, and shortly after, the family settled in Orono, where Mary was active for many years in a variety of organizations including the New England Optometric Association Auxiliary, the Bangor Symphony Women, and the Penobscot Valley Country Club. Mary always enjoyed athletics and was an excellent swimmer, golfer and dedicated skier of Sugarloaf Mountain. After Gleason Jr’s death in 1973, Mary utilized her medical degree, working with several doctors in Bangor. In 1980, Mary married her second husband, John Crosby Bowler, and the couple settled in Hampden, with frequent visits to her beloved Sugarloaf Mountain camp in Carrabassett Valley, Maine. In 2016, she moved to Winterberry Heights Assisted Living in Bangor and developed many wonderful friendships there.

Surviving are her sons, Gary and wife Paula Coyle, of Scarborough, ME and Stephen of Palm Springs, CA; several nieces and nephews and their spouses, Janne and Jim Provencher of Errol, NH, Jeffrey and Janet Tucker of Waterford, ME, Chris and Dennis Hoskinson of Bradenton, FL, Kimberly and Michael Sacco of Underhill, VT, Scott and Leasa Rand of Brookfield, WI, Heidi and Roy Matic of Versailles, KY, Susan Whitman of Syosset, NY, and Johnston Jr. and Jessica Whitman of Philadelphia, PA,. In addition to her parents and husbands, Mary was predeceased by her sisters, Phyllis “Penny” and Anne.

Funeral services will be 12:00 PM, Noon, Thursday, July 1, 2021 at the Orono Chapel of Brookings-Smith, 72 Main Street, Orono. Interment will be at Mt. Hope Cemetery, Bangor. In lieu of flowers, those who wish to remember Mary in a special way, by making a gift to the American Cancer Society, Manna Ministries, Inc of Bangor or to the Bangor Humane Society. Condolences to the family may be expressed at BrookingsSmith.com.