Sandra Kay Fortner died on March 14, 2022, at the age of 78. She was born in 1943 into a midwestern farming family. Her birth was the result of a love story between her mother, Esther L. Bowles (Miller) – a WW2 nurse and a Captain – and her father, John W. Bowles – a Private. Esther was so intent on becoming a nurse that she'd fattened up a pig just to buy a typewriter to apply to nursing school and had hopes of one day becoming a doctor. John was a determined young man from a mule-farming family with dreams of making it big. When the Army learned of the marriage between a Captain (who is an officer) and a mere Private, Esther was discharged, and John was deployed to the Aleutian Islands. Sandy did not see her father until she was three.

Sandy's parents moved to Denver. John worked as a travelling salesman and the family grew, with Sandy becoming big sister to Debra in 1948. Seizing an opportunity, John and Esther started a watch band business and the family began to prosper.

After high school, Sandy attended the University of Colorado where she met an Army Captain named Emmet R. Sullivan. They married and had two children, Shannon and Ryan. Sandy bravely followed her husband to Southeast Asia with their two small children. After a few years they divorced, and Sandy returned to the United States.

She found love again when she met Donald C. Fortner, a kind man of deep integrity who shared her roots in farming, made a living in international sales, and loved good food, wine and travel. They married, honeymooned in Paris and settled down to build a life together. They bought the watch band business from Sandy's parents and worked side-by-side until she retired. Sandy relished being a grandmother, reading Harry Potter books to her grandson Alvi as he fell asleep at night. Her granddaughter Elia had a special affection for "Grammy," and Sandy supported them both until the end.

After Don's death in 2009, she elected to move into an assisted living center. Albeit an adventurer at heart, she loved being at home.

Sandra Kay Fortner was restless. She was untamed, yet she was anxious. She wanted love, but she didn't want to be restrained. She wanted to explore the world and put her feet in every ocean, and also loved to be at home. She wanted to belong, to be loved, to be wanted and safe, but she didn't want to pay the ultimate cost—the cost of her freedom. She didn't want to be a mother, and at the same time, she did. She wanted to be married, but she wanted true love, and sometimes that changes. She wanted to be adored. She wanted all the attention. She didn't want to be a burden. She wanted to live and die on her own terms. Sandra drifted away in the early morning hours of March 14 ^th , 2022.

The Japanese tradition of wabi-sabi teaches us to appreciate beauty that is imperfect, incomplete and impermanent. Through acceptance, you find freedom; out of acceptance, you find growth. Sandra was beautiful and loved and she will be missed.

She is survived by her sister, Debra Bowles Day, two children, Shannon Marie Sullivan, and Ryan Patrick Sullivan, and two grandchildren, Elia Esther Torcal Sullivan and Alvaro ("Alvi) Fox Torcal Sullivan.

Please join family and friends in sending Sandra on her final adventure. Saturday, April 9, 2022

9:15 - 9:45 am Payment of Respect:

Sandra's cremains will be in a motorcycle sidecar under the front portico of Montage Hills Senior Living, 2500 S Roslyn St, Denver, CO 80231.

9:45 am Final Ride:

Fulfilling a life-long dream, Sandra will depart in the sidecar for the Wat Buddhawararam Temple, 4801 Julian St, Denver, CO 80221.

10:30 am Service:

Monks at the Temple will offer a blessing to send Sandra's soul on its journey. Thai food will be served following the ceremony. Non-Buddhists are welcome.