LEVANT – Sandra “Sandy” Ruth Blackwell, 69, loving wife, mother, grandmother, sister, and friend, passed away peacefully Tuesday April 12, 2011, at home, after a long battle with cancer. She was born June 22, 1941, in East Corinth, the daughter of Harvard and Marguerite (Batchelder) Tate.
Sandy found great comfort and peace in her Christian faith throughout her illness. She enjoyed teaching Sunday school for many years and was very supportive of missions. Sandy and her husband, Earl, recently celebrated 50 years of marriage. After their retirement, Sandy and Earl wintered in Zephyrhills, Fla., where they made many wonderful friends. Sandy enjoyed gardening, spending time at their cottage on Green Lake, and playing cards with her grandchildren.
In addition to her husband, Sandy is survived by her two daughters, Valerie Harriman of Hermon, and her sons, Scott and his girlfriend, Courtney, and Andrew; and Lynne Fox and her husband, Allen, of Blue Hill, and their children, Benjamin, Jacob and Annelise; siblings, Millie Balthis of Manchester, Ill., Hildred, Chesley and her husband, Mickey, of Warner Robbins, Ga., Lois Crane and her husband, Neil, of Dexter, Pearl Campbell of Bangor and Ken Tate and his wife, Beverly, of Corinth, mother-in-law, Liona Bragdon and her husband, Dwight, of Glenburn; and brother-in-law, Dale Blackwell and his wife, Mary, of Carmel.
A funeral service will be held 10 a.m. Friday, April 15, at Hermon Baptist Church, Route 2, Hermon, with the Rev. Garnett Chute officiating. After the service friends are invited to share conversation and refreshments at the church hall. Those wishing to remember Sandy in a special way may make gifts in her name to the Missionary Outreach program of Hermon Baptist Church, 2496 Route 2, Hermon, ME 04401. A service of Brookings-Smith, 133 Center St., Bangor.