Our sweet treasure, Lawrence “Maurie” Piland Bowen, of Blacksburg, chose Aug. 23, 2025, as the day that she would finally just rest. Having celebrated her 94th birthday weeks earlier, Maurie was in good spirits and driving her own train until the very end.
She was preceded in death by her parents, her sister, and the love of her life, Trent, who she married in 1952, shortly after meeting him on a blind date. She is survived by her three children: Beth Howell (Wayne), Trish Snow (Sam) and Rodney Bowen (Adair). She is also survived by nine adored grandchildren, ten treasured great-grandchildren and her special companions, Michelle and Tigerlily.
Maurie was born in the upstairs bedroom at her grandmother’s house in Gatesville, North Carolina on a steamy July morning in 1931. She spent her childhood summers at her grandparents’ farm in Gates County, NC, playing with her sister and their friend, Doc, in the cypress swamps near the Chowan River. Maurie’s parents were both college-educated and she grew up a block off the campus of North Carolina State University where her father taught horticulture. She told stories of walking to her daddy’s lab at “the college” after church on Sundays where he would put on a magician’s hat and mix chemicals to produce smoke, bubbles, colors, and other “magic”. She and her sister learned all about plants and soil, antiques, fishing and all the wonders of nature from their beloved Daddy. She always called her mother, “Mother”, from whom she learned sewing, self-reliance, her love of reading and crochet, and how to make the most wonderful applesauce.
Maurie was an RN, graduating from the Watts Hospital School of Nursing in 1952. She happily worked as a nurse, putting Trent through law school at Duke in the early years of their marriage and later working at the Children’s Rehab Hospital in Charlottesville, VA. She and Trent enjoyed golfing and snow skiing and incorporated both into their love of travel whenever possible. They traveled cross country multiple times, first in a 1968 Volkswagen and later in their motor homes. Their motor home adventures included trips to Alaska, Australia, New Zealand and Europe.
Maurie loved quilting, crafting, sewing and reading. She made holiday dresses and vests for her grandchildren and then great-grandchildren and countless baby quilts throughout the years. She was so looking forward to the start of the next college football and basketball seasons. She was known for her elaborate hand-written charts to track each weekend’s game schedule for all of her favorite teams so she would not miss any of the action.
Maurie will be remembered for her treasured relationships and her amazing love for all her family and friends. Everywhere she went, she developed deep, true relationships and friendships. Everyone who knew her will miss her forever and simply be grateful for the chance to know her and love her.
A celebration of life was held Friday, Aug. 29, 2025 at the Village Center at Warm Hearth Village. The family received friends following the service. In keeping with her generous nature, Maurie has donated her body to medical science. In lieu of flowers, memorial tributes in her honor can be sent to The Warm Hearth Foundation or the Virginia Wildlife Center.
