Myrl Leon “Sandy” Bowler, born August 5, 1943, passed away on January 10, 2026, to be with his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Sandy was born to Harley William and Virginia Bowler in Fowler, Kansas, and was the second oldest of seven children, George (died at birth)Willa Dean Naugle (deceased), William Bowler (deceased), Marion Bowler, Katy Ward, and Gail Williams.

On June 25, 1966, Sandy married Karen Bastings. They had three children, M. Clayton Bowler married to Michelle, Kim Bowler fiancé to Jim Bonds, and Robyn Siracusa married to Paul. Sandy was proud of his three grandsons, Tyler, Zachary, and Nikolas.

Sandy loved playing high school football and racing his awesome muscle cars when he was young which included a classic Ford Mustang, a Dodge Charger, and a Chevy SS396 Chevelle. He liked powerful cars that went fast. He graduated from Hillcrest High School in 1961.

Sandy moved to the St. Louis area where he operated two Derby service stations. He always liked to tell the story about how Stan Musial once stopped by his station on the way to a Cardinals game and got a dollar’s worth of gas. He gave the dollar to his brother-in-law David.

He eventually moved back to the Springfield area where he would eventually take the reins of B&R Drilling after his father died in 1979. He would drill water wells until an accident while driving the drill rig would force him into early retirement. No matter where we were driving in Southwest Missouri, Dad would point out a well either his father or he drilled. Despite the long hours, Sandy always seemed to enjoy drilling.

After retirement, he would serve as the Mayor of Strafford, MO, for a few years, helping the city move into the current City Hall. He would enjoy going to NASCAR races with his son and grandson Nikolas. He also became a bus driver for special needs children, something that made him very proud as he felt a connection by helping these children.

Visitation will be held 6-8 p.m., Wednesday, January 14, 2026, at Greenlawn Funeral Home East, 3540 E. Seminole in Springfield.  Funeral services will be 11 a.m., Thursday, January 15, 2026.  Burial will follow at Danforth Cemetery in Strafford.

Care has been entrusted to Greenlawn Funeral Home East.