A painter, hiker and intellectual, Nancy Bordewich Bowers, 88, impressed friends with her Victorian-like manners, but displayed an intellect and artistic expression right from the Renaissance.
Bowers died Sunday of natural causes at her Carson City home
"She was a wonderful artist," said Pat Holub, who knew Bowers through the Nevada Artists Association and the Brewery Arts Center, where Bowers displayed her art. "She did a lot of abstract and miniature painting. She was an excellent artist, just a little better than anyone else. She used to win all the awards at the gallery."
Bowers, born April 26, 1916, on Curry Street, attended the University of Nevada and University of California, Berkeley, graduating with English and art degrees. In San Francisco, she studied at the California School of Fine Arts.
When she returned to Carson City in the 1950s, she spent much of her time with her sister Grace Bordewich, developing friendships with Carson City families.
Bordewich, an English teacher, was outgoing and influential on her students. Bowers was a little quieter, shy around cameras and an artist at heart. The women never had children, but became like aunts to their friends' children. One such family was the Bundys.
"We were extremely close with both of them," said Tina Bundy Nappe. "We were all connected growing up. My parents didn't have any family here in Nevada. And they became part of our family."
Nappe recalls hiking near Markleeville, Calif., with Bowers, as well as outdoor picnics, birthday and Easters spent together. She said Bowers helped found the Toiyabe Chapter of the Sierra Club.
"I think the sisters were all that was best in the Victorian age," she said. "They were fantastic cooks and hostesses. Their conversation was extremely lively. They never complained about their lives."
Conversation with the sisters centered around politics, the arts and literature and prominent society figures.
"I did consider them a unique phenomenon we are unlikely to see in the future," she said. "They were extremely gracious."
Friends of Bowers describe her as a talented artist, who earlier in her life focused on realistic pieces then moved toward the abstract.
Nappe recalls a piece called "Village Dancing in the Sun" of little houses against an orange background which Bowers gave her for her wedding.
Bowers had a brief marriage to Don Bowers, editor of Nevada Magazine. She painted dioramas for the Nevada History Museum and worked at the Nevada State Library for more than 30 years in the inter-library loan section.
Martha Gould, Bowers' supervisor at the library, said, "She knew everyone, and she was very good and conscientious at her work. She was really a neat lady. She was just a nice lady."
A memorial service will be at 11 a.m. Friday at Walton's Chapel of the Valley.
Contact reporter Maggie O'Neill at moneill@nevadaappeal.com or 881-1219.
