Sandra Alline Stinson Allen, 80, was escorted into eternal life by her Lord and Savior on January 22, 2021 after a 38 day battle with complications of Covid-19. Born in New Orleans, LA on May 1, 1940, to the late James Jewell Stinson and Frankie Alline Bishop Stinson, Sandy began creating a living example of what it means to truly love others.
Sandy grew up in New Orleans and graduated from St. Martin’s Episcopal School in 1957. She attended the University of Tulsa and LSU, majoring in education and received her Bachelor of Arts in Literature from the University of Texas at the Permian Basin in 1975. While at the University of Tulsa, Sandy pledged Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority and met the love of her life, the late James Clarence Allen. For the next 47 years of marriage, Sandy followed Jim in the Air Force and his 32 year relationship with Amoco Production Company. They began making life long friends and raising a family from Clovis, NM, Pampa, TX, Oklahoma City, OK, Ft. Worth, TX, Drayton Valley, Alberta, Canada, Odessa, TX and Houston, TX; making their final home in Emerald Bay, Tyler, TX in 1996.
Sandy was a true “southern belle” in many ways. Her mother made her take classes in ballroom dance, etiquette and social skill, starting in middle school. Perhaps that is why she wasn’t really much of a complainer and was always reaching out to others; enjoying simple conversation and companionship. She loved freely and gracefully and probably never knew the depth and reach of the sharing of her heart. Fiercely competitive, Sandy loved to play games, from golf, Bridge, and Mah-Jongg with her neighbors, to “Healdton Stomp”, “Knock” and “Go Fish” with her family. Do not think she would let you win because you were her grandchild either! Learning to be a graceful loser is also part of etiquette! She was always up for adventure and loved traveling, not only with her husband but with her daughters and her friends. She was adventurous and once rode “Mission to Mars” at Disney after being pushed up to the boarding gate in a wheelchair past all the younger folks standing in line for the tamer version. She chose to complete items on her “bucket list”, with each of her daughters and each item involved traveling: Madeira, Portugal, Mackinac Island, and a cruise to Jamaica. She even zip-lined in the Smoky Mountains at the age of 77! In her later years, her favorite form of travel was a cruise ship, where she could be found reading on a balcony and attending formal dinners and night shows. She was ok with ice cream before dinner, or any dessert for that matter, which made her top of the “love list” for her grandchildren.
Sandra was a member of Marvin UMC in Tyler, an alumni of Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority, and a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution. Although she was a preschool teacher, most notably for Spring Woods UMC in Houston, her true accomplishment and profession was as a domestic engineer. Keeping a clean house (even ironing the sheets and handkerchiefs for years), as well as keeping up with her husband and daughters busy lives, was a priority. Family was expected to eat supper together, help with chores, keep up your grades and treat each other with respect and love. She set the bar in this family when it came to being a wife, a mother, a grandparent and a friend; making time to listen and spend quality time with each of her daughters, grandchildren and great grandchildren. She was truly the “Kappa Alpha Rose” of this family and will be very deeply missed.
Sandra is preceded in death by her husband, her parents, her sisters, Jackie Harris and Jewell Beene, and her brother, Jimmie Stinson, Jr. She is survived by her three daughters, Michelle Vinson (Rev. Tony) of Sugar Land, TX, Kristen Schneider (Steve) of Clear Lake, TX, and Rev. Melissa Hatch (Michael) of Savannah, TX. She is also survived by her eight grandchildren, Alyssa, Tony II, Ben, Cole, Allen, Kiera, Maddie and Mitch, as well as 7 great grandchildren (with 1 on the way!), and numerous other family members and a host of friends.
A sacred and intimate graveside service is planned for the family at the Cathedral in the Pines Memorial Gardens in Tyler, with the Reverend Tony Vinson officiating. Button Memorial UMC will host an online celebration of her life on February 27, 2021 at 2:00 PM for her extended family, friends, and friends of the family. In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation in Sandy’s honor to Button Memorial UMC (101 W. Eldorado Pkwy, Little Elm, TX 75068), where her youngest daughter is pastor. The family wishes to thank the nurses and staff of the B.T.T. Tower 4th floor ICU of Christus Mother Frances Hospital in Tyler. Please keep them in your prayers as they continue to care for patients and their families, as they did ours.
We believe that Sandy is enjoying eternal life with her husband, Jamie, and we will all be reunited to rejoice with her again. Until then….God is still on duty.
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