Sydney Bowman Collier

Sydney was born in Joliet, Illinois on September 22, 1951, to Neil D. Bowman and Marguerite O. Bowman. The family moved to Muskogee, Oklahoma in 1958. Sydney graduated from Muskogee High School in the class of 1969 and began her studies at OU. She moved to Denver in 1973 and worked as an X-ray technician for several years. Later she earned a business degree from the University of Colorado.

Sydney courageously accepted her cancer diagnosis and for five difficult years maintained her ability to find the positive in every situation. She made everyone around her feel comfortable and at ease. Her ability to smile and remain happy throughout the ordeal was an ongoing gift to family, friends and caretakers.

Sydney was preceded in death by her parents, Neil and Marguerite Bowman, and husband Michael Collier.

She is survived by her beloved children, Hardey Beitz (Katie) and Nina Besant (Zeb) of Parker, two sisters, Sarah Wildemore (John) of Berwyn, Pennsylvania, and Susan Hays (Lou) of Tahlequah, Oklahoma, six grandchildren, Marliese, Cobey, Sydney, Damian, Zyrek and Zoey, nieces, nephews and several cousins.

A memorial service for Sydney is planned for July 31 in Parker, Colorado.

Donations honoring Sydney may be sent to:

The Denver Hospice, 501 S. Cherry St., Suite 700, Denver, CO, 80246 (thedenverhospice.org)

Lifespark (www.lifesparknow.org)

The Wounded Warrior Project (support.woundedwarriorproject.org)