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Columbus— 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, on October 22, 1946, to Catherine MacNeil 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, Clover Bishop, and Willow Bishop.

She attended Catholic schools in Portland, Maine, and graduated from St. Joseph’s College in Windham, Maine, with a BA in sociology. After working as a social worker at St. Elizabeth’s Child Development Center, she joined Unionmutual Life Insurance Company (now Unum), retiring in 1999 as manager of the company’s diversity programs.

Her post-retirement passions, shared with Cobie, included caring for horses at their farm in Columbus, and RV travel, crossing 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 at 1:30 p.m. on Wednesday, September 13, 2023, in the chapel at Tryon Estates. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to her favorite charities: St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Alzheimer’s Association, or Foothills Humane Society.

Sanders Funeral Home
Columbus, NC