Sandra L. Russ peacefully passed away on December 31, 2011 at the Olivia White Hospice Home.She was born to Walt & Vera Worman on a farm in Illinois.At the age of 6, her family moved to Tucson due to her brother's asthma.While working as a car hop she met the love of her life, Bill Russ, who happened to be the short order cook.She dropped out of school at 16 to marry Bill and moved to Phoenix.There they raised 3 children, Kathleen, Bryan & Alice. When the children were in high school, she went to work for the USDA Cotton Research in Pima County, for 20 yrs, with her best friend of 48 years, Donna Cave. After raising the children, they retired to Ponderosa Springs under the Mogollon Rim and spent more than 30 years there. She adored her grandchildren, Heather, Holly, Michael, Bryan, Sarah, Jarod & Taylor.She made capes, bows & arrows, had tea parties and was always baking and making cutout cookies with them.Going to the cabin was always filled with laughter, fun and card games.After Bill passed away in 2010, Sandy was diagnosed with breast cancer and came to Flagstaff for treatments.Sandy and her mother, Vera came to live with Kathleen & Mike Jones of Flagstaff.She enjoyed her great grandchildren, Ethan & Ryleigh and was excited to witness the birth of her 3rd great grandchild, Jameson Bella Renee Young. She greatly loved her family and was deeply loved back.
A memorial service will be held Saturday January 14, 2012 at 10:30 am at Hansen Chapel, 8314 N. 7th Street, Phoenix. A reception will follow at the home of Bryan Russ, 3428 W Ironwood, Phoenix, AZ
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Flagstaff's Military Support Group,M.A.N.A. Support Network/Am Legion Post 3, 204 W Birch, Flagstaff, AZ86001, Northland Hospice, PO Box 997 Flagstaff, AZ 86002 or The Susan G. Koman Foundation.