Sarah Bishop

Sarah M. Bishop

Sarah M. Bishop, of Bountiful, passed into her maker’s hands on Wednesday, September 24, 2014.

Sarah was born December 24, 1917 in Willow, Oklahoma to her parents Mamie Manila Frazier and Claude McGowen, Sr. When Sarah was just 16, her father died from complications of a gunshot wound sustained during an attempted robbery four years earlier leaving her mother to do whatever she could to provide for Sarah and her brother Claude (Jelly) during the Dust Bowl and Great Depression. Though the little family moved often, Sarah finished high school in Clarendon, Oklahoma where she played on the tennis team and adopted the name “Too Tall McGowen”. She graduated in May of 1935. She later attended West Texas State Teachers College in Canyon, Texas. Though she did not complete her four-year degree, she was hired to teach third through sixth grade for $79 a month in a one-room rural schoolhouse near Twitty, Texas with her friend Elloese Burgess. In the fall of 1940, after moving to Phillips, Texas, she met the love of her life, George F. L. Bishop, when she came to his house to pick up a bed a mutual friend had asked him to lend this newly arrived school teacher. Evidently it was love at first sight and after a short courtship, Sarah and George married on June 6, 1941 in Canyon, Texas in her mother’s home. They were married 65 years before George passed away in January of 2006.

Sarah always felt it important to share her good fortune with others both locally and around the globe. She was an avid volunteer, active community member and had been a faithful member of the Bountiful Community Church since 1954. She played an important and instrumental role in establishing and building the church’s food bank and participated in the building and design of the new sanctuary. Sarah was a long time and active member of PEO in Oklahoma and Utah. In her later years, Sarah enjoyed monthly outings with the Bountiful Red Hat Society.

Sarah peacefully passed away in her beloved home in the company of her daughter Sally, her daughter-in-law, Wendy, and her wonderful, longtime caregivers Graciela Zabala, Amaya Bossone and Patricia Jenkins. Sarah’s brother preceded her in death last year. Sarah is survived by her son George F L Bishop III of Mesa, Arizona, her son Nicholas F. Bishop and wife Wendy of Boise, Idaho, and her daughter Sally Bishop of Denver, Colorado, Sarah is also survived by eight grandchildren, seventeen great-grandchildren and five great-great-grandchildren.

Friends and family are invited to attend her viewing at Bountiful Community Church, 150 N. 400 E. on Saturday, October 4, 2014 from 10:45 until 11:45 with a funeral service at 12:00. Everyone is welcome to a reception at the family home at 1294 E Millbrook Way from 2:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. Sarah will be greatly missed by her family, friends and all who knew her. Arrangements  under the directions of Lindquist’s Bountiful Mortuary.