Sandra (Traynor) Bishop

Sandy Bishop, lover of children, RV travel, horses, dogs, birds, art, music, water sports, hiking, and camping, died on August 8, 2023, at Tryon Estates, Columbus, North Carolina. 

Born Sandra Jean Traynor in Portland, Maine, October 22, 1946, to Catherine MacNiel and Everett C Traynor, she was the youngest of 7 children. She is survived by Cobie Smith, her partner of 35 years, her children Catherine (Kate) Bishop and Michael Bishop, and 6 grandchildren, Aya Bishop, Cole Swanson, Soleil Swanson, Oscar Swanson, Chloe Bishop, and Willow Bishop.

She attended Catholic schools in Portland, Maine, and graduated from St. Joseph’s College in Windham, Maine, with a BA degree in sociology.  After working as a social worker at St. Elizabeth’s Child Development Center, she joined Union Mutual Life Insurance Company (now Unum), retiring in1999 as manager of the company’s diversity programs.

Her post-retirement passions, shared with Cobie, included caring for horses at their farm in Columbus, NC, and RV travel, crossing the the country multiple times.  And, of course, she was passionate about her grandchildren, cherishing the time she was able to spend with them, despite geographic separation.

A memorial service will be held 1:30 pm on Wednesday September 13, 2023 at the Tryon Estates Chapel.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Alzheimer’s Association, or Foothills Humane Society.

Sanders Funeral Home.

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