“My dear sister Sandy, God blessed me with the best big sister, and a best friend. We had a great childhood with such love from mama and daddy and our family. I miss you sis, and love you so.”

— Wendy

“I will always think of Sandy as our own saint. Saints do not have an easy life - they are the suffering servants of the Lord. And to be a saint is to be perfect - to have very human flaws. A couple years ago cousin Carol was confiding in me about how Sandy was struggling to make enough money to raise four children on her own. But Sandy's chosen profession - caring for the physically challenged people - was not paying enough to do so. It occurred to me at that time and I said, "She is doing the work of the Lord." And how like the saints of old, Sandy struggled and suffered to bring to society that which is greatly needed - love, tenderness, assistance - to the less fortunate among us. I have seen Sandy in action while caring for an adult man and realized that this was her greatest gift that she lavished on those who so needed it. I have witnessed her great compassion, respect, and joy in how she would interact with this man. You should know that to have a relative or loved one cared for by Sandy - likewise her sister Wendy - is to know that they are cared for with great compassion, respect, and in an attitude of joy. It is work not highly compensated, not recognized or rewarded in this world and yet so very important. Though she could have, Sandy did not leave her work for higher pay, or for self gain. She continued to provide this service to needy people because she felt compelled to, she knew that her most important gift is so needed in this world replete with selfishness and evil. She passes this quality of goodness and tenderness on to four more young people - her children: Leland, Gavin, Christa, and Clarissa. It is her great gift to the world and they can always be proud of their mother, who she is and what she gave to the world. And we are blessed by this and we are blessed to have had such a selfless person amoung us for all these years. May we have more of them, may we become one of them, may we always appreciate and reflect in our own lives the tenderness and caring that Sandy so lavished on the world. She is a saint to me.”

— Loving Cousin

“The Broken Chain We little knew that morning that God was going to call your name. In life we loved you dearly, in death we do the same. It broke our hearts to lose you, you did not go alone; for part of us went with you, the day God called you home. You left us peaceful memories, your love is still our guide; and though we cannot see you, you are always at our side. Our family chain is broken, and nothing seems the same; but as God calls us one by one, the chain will link again.”

— Sandy's Family