Sandra Joyce Wilson

September 8, 1945 - February 16, 2010

Sandra Joyce Wilson September 8, 1945 – February 16, 2010 Sandra Joyce Wilson was born September 8, 1945 in Idaho Falls, Idaho. She had curly blond hair and blue eyes. She was so bright from the moment she was born that she practically potty trained herself. She grew up fast because she wanted to be like her older brother and whenever he accomplished anything she had to prove that she could do it just as well as he could. She had a sharp mind and picked things up quickly. Sandee was always popular. They lived in Goldendale, Washington when she was in first grade and all of her older brother Jess’s friends were bribing Jess with candy bars so they could be Sandee’s boyfriend. She had a very nurturing nature and always mothered her younger brothers. She displayed natural leadership skills even as a young girl by convincing her brother Dusty that the mud pies she’d made were really chocolate pies – and he enjoyed eating every bite. At the age of 8 she was baptized into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Idaho Falls. For a week during the summer that she was 11, she baby sat her five month old baby brother Gary, so her mother could pick strawberries to supplement the family income. When she was 12 she was old enough to work during the summer and picked strawberries to earn her own money for school clothes. In High School she won a driving contest. She and her brother Jess went to Washington D.C. where Sandee represented the State of Oregon in the National Teenage Rodeo. There she honored as one of the top ten safest drivers in the nation. In high school she was also on the pep squad and was captain of the dance team and played clarinet in the high school band. When she was 14 she found her own job working at the lunch counter at Naps in Newberg and continued working there all through high School. She graduated from Newberg High School in 1964 at the age of 18 and married Bill Owen, her high school sweetheart. They had a beautiful daughter Janice Lynn. A couple of years later Sandee and Bill divorced. That’s when Sandee began attending Portland State University. During the next few years she worked fulltime and attended college; all the while, raising her young daughter on her own. After receiving a bachelors degree Sandee began a teaching career and when her daughter Jan was 10 years old she was teaching Physical Education at John Adams High School in Portland, Oregon. It was there, at a drinking fountain, that she met a handsome shop teacher named Terry. What a pleasant surprise that his last name was Wilson, the same as her maiden name. As they got to know each other they discovered they had a lot in common and Sandee agreed to marry this kind, loyal and loving man. On April 23, 1974 she and Terry were married in Reno, Nevada. The following year Terry was offered a position teaching at the Junior High School in Richland, Washington. Sandee couldn’t find a satisfactory teaching position and began looking in a different field. Tat was the beginning of a successful Real Estate career that spanned approximately 35 years. Because of her exceptional work ethics and personal philosophy of always striving to do her best at whatever she pursued, she won numerous awards for excellence. During her extensive real estate career and as the Washington Square Branch Manager for Stan Wiley Real Estate Company in Portland, Oregon she was honored for being one of the Top Ten Award Winning Producers in the nation. Family was important to Sandee and even as a single parent she and Jan always made a point of coming home to Newberg every holiday. Despite her personal struggles Sandee retained an enthusiasm for life and all it entailed. Her positive attitude was infectious and she genuinely cared about others. She was a very giving person and was continually showering gifts on the ones she loved all year round, not just on special occasions. She is fondly remembered by her nieces and nephews for the gifts and Christmas Stockings or bags of candy she faithfully passed out to them every Christmas Eve. She loved crafts and was able to give many beautiful handmade gifts of jewelry and other items that are treasured still. When Sandee’s daughter Jan met and married Kevin Loynachan, Sandee finally had a son whom she adored. Jan and Kevin soon added another bundle of joy to Sandee and Terry’s life when they had their little son Chad. Sandee always doted on her grandson and loved him so much that she was always pestering Jan and Kevin to give them more grandchildren just like Chad. A couple of weeks ago Sandee and Terry were able to join in celebrating Chad’s 18th birthday. Sandee was always so proud of Chad, the young man he is and the grown man she sees in him. On Tuesday February 16, 2010, Sandee passed away. She is survived by Terry, her devoted husband of almost 36 years, her Daughter Jan, Son-in-law Kevin, Grandson Chad, Mother Idella, four brothers Jess, Dusty, Leon and Gary, 30 nieces and nephews and over 25 great nieces and nephews. Her life will be honored on Saturday, February 20, 2010 at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Newberg, Oregon at, 1212 Deborah Road. She will be laid to rest in Willamette National Cemetery in Portland.