March 29, 1944 to February 9, 2023
Sandra “Sandy” Kay Smedley left this earth on Feb. 9, 2023. She was born to Constance “Connie” Bertha Little (Smith) and Lester Angell on Mar. 29, 1944, in Shelbyville, Indiana. Her family moved to Tucson when she was a child and she spent most of her life in the southwest until moving to Utah to be with her children. She had a variety of service-related jobs and enjoyed working with the public and helping others.
Sandy loved going out when she was young and was a fun-loving person. She enjoyed dancing, gardening, cooking and traveling in her younger years. She was always up for a road trip and even hitchhiked from Texas to Louisiana in her late 20s. She was a big race fan and spent many weekends in the stands watching her brother compete. Her favorite race car driver, other than her brother, was Dale Waltrip. She was a super fan and instructed her children that she wanted her ashes spread on his property in Tennessee. That’s going to be a tough wish to fulfill but the kids will do their best. Sandy loved the color red and was a dog person. She owned many dogs in her lifetime. All of them little and quite chubby from one too many treats. She was known for being a stubborn woman. That stubbornness translated to strength when needed. Her strength surprised her friends and family many times. Especially when she was struggling with Alzheimer’s and poor health. She rarely complained and did what was asked of her even when it was hard.
She has four children, Ladena Sipes (Steven Money), Randy Mercier, Paula Wells, and Renauta Livingston (Robert Treager). She was a loving and sometimes cranky grandmother to ten amazing kids, Tamandra “Mandy” and Gregory Wells (Paula), twins Margaux and McKelle (Randy), and Bronson, Brandon, Angel, Alana, Braydon and Aspen (Renauta). Sandy was also happy to have great-grandchildren, Colton, Bryan, Alex, Kaitlyn and Emma.
Sandy lived with her husband, youngest daughter and extended family. They were a huge part of her daily life. They all helped with her care and treated her with so much kindness and respect. Aspen was her special helper and knew at a young age how to check Grandma’s blood pressure and blood sugar. Sandy was proud of all her family’s accomplishments and could be counted on to be at all their activities to cheer them on.
She married William Joy Smedley on Apr. 19, 1986. He was a wonderful husband and stepfather. He enjoyed nothing more than teasing her and holding her hand to reassure her he was close. When Sandy developed early onset Alzheimer’s in her 60s, he and her youngest daughter, Renauta, became her caretakers. She was lovingly cared for at home by her family until she passed.
Sandy had two sisters and one brother, Barthena Gillette (Daryl), Rick Sipes (Connie) and Rebecca Babcock (John). She has a small group of nieces and nephews that she loved. Her nephew, Raymond, also lived with her and helped with her care in her last years.
She is preceded in death by her daughter, Paula; her parents; grandparents; brother, Rick; and sister, Becky. Although those of us left on earth are mourning her passing, we know she is experiencing a happy reunion with those that went before. They were there to greet her when she arrived, and we know someday she’ll be there to greet us.
The family would like to thank Canyon Care with a special thanks to Sandy’s nurse, Marcie Duke; and CNA, Sheila Slaughter. Their kindness and loving care contributed to Sandy’s peaceful passing.