Sheilah N. Bowen

Sheilah Niehouse Bowen, age 81, passed away peacefully on Thursday, February 25, 2021, at Mill Vista Lodge in Highlands Ranch, CO. She was born April 30, 1939, in Salt Lake City, to Dr. George and Mary (Keating) Niehouse. Sheilah was a 1957 graduate of St. Mary’s Academy, Englewood, CO. She married Thomas Gayle Bowen, a newly commissioned officer from the first graduating class of the United States Air Force Academy, on June 6, 1959 at St. Vincent de Paul Catholic church, Denver, CO. Sheilah worked as an Officer’s wife and homemaker creating a home where the family always felt loved and well feed. Once her daughters were off to work on their degrees, Sheilah completed her studies to begin work as a Respiratory Therapist. She was inspired to do this work after the birth of her granddaughter Nicole and the care she provided Nicki in her first year. She also worked many volunteer hours for the Republican party, St. Francis de Sales Catholic church and the Arthritis Foundation all when she still resided in Tucson, AZ. Sheilah will be dearly missed by all who knew her and her zest for life and beautiful smile. Sheilah was preceded in death by her parents, Dr. George and Mary Niehouse and her husband Col. Thomas G. Bowen. She is survived by her sister Eileen Niehouse; sister-in-law Jannell Leonard; brother-in-law Reese Irwin Bowen; daughters Deborah Spicer (Tom), Lynn Green (Douglas) and Kelly Hanson (Jeff); her grandchildren, Sarah Pettitt (Nate), Greg Stahl (Katie), Nicki Turnbow (Bryan), John Keeler (Amy), Catie Tuttle, Jennifer Hanson and Shannon Hanson; her great-grandchildren Hannah, Allison, Camille, Emma, Rebecca, Isaac, Matthew (Pettitt), Weston, Briggs, Payton (Turnbow), Lincoln Stahl; her good friend and travel companion Jerry Gregson.

Being the kind, compassionate person she was, Sheilah asks that in lieu of flowers, please smile at a stranger or brighten someone’s day whenever you can; the world needs so much more love and/or donate to the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America https://alzfdn.org/support-us/donate/ .

Sheilah’s family will be holding a graveside service at the United States Air Force Academy on June 25th, 2021. A celebration of her life will follow.