Florence Mary (Jones) Sandy

     Florence Mary Sandy was born on May 2nd, 1923, in her childhood home in Hagerman.   She went home to be with her Lord and Savior on May 10th, 2024 surrounded by family in her same home at the age of 101.  Her life was filled with faith, joy and service to family and community.  She would often quote the Bible Verse, Nehemiah 8:10, “The joy of the Lord is my Strength.” 

     Her mother and father, John W. Jones and Ethel (Justice) Jones, were in the sheep business.  Every spring they would trail the sheep from Hagerman all the way to the Stanley Basin in the Sawtooth Mountains.  Fall and winter months were spent in Hagerman both in town and out on the family ranch on Billingsley Creek.  Florence Mary always loved being on the go!  In 1936, at the age of 13, her family took a trip to Wales, Great Britain, her father’s birth home.  They travelled by train to New York where they boarded the passenger ship, Queen Elizabeth.   She remembered as they passed through the harbor, the pride she felt seeing Ellis Island where her father had landed as an immigrant at the age of 16.  It took five days to cross the Atlantic, where Florence Mary, her parents and her younger brother, Bill, spent 3 months visiting family and seeing the sights.   She recounted getting a very high mark on her end of the year exams in Geography.

     In 1941, Florence Mary boarded the train bound for the University of Washington in Seattle.  As she was adjusting to college life, one evening while studying, her roommate came running into her room and said, “Turn on the radio!”  Florence Mary heard the announcer say, “The Japanese have bombed Pearl Harbor.”  Orders were given to turn out all the lights as they sat in the dark listening to President Roosevelt declare war.  From that moment on, college life became quite different.  As most of the college men joined the service, Florence Mary volunteered at the USO and she became efficient at the soda fountain and dancing with the servicemen to tunes on the Juke Box.  She also volunteered to be a Red Cross nurse’s aide at King County Hospital.   As so many women were going to work in the factories to help with the war efforts, the YWCA started a day care, and Florence was the first volunteer and the chairman of the volunteers from her university. Little did she know that her future husband was also a serviceman in the U.S. Navy Air Force. 

     Florence Mary returned from college to help her father as he recovered from an illness and then taught High School in Hagerman for a year.  She said, “I never had any discipline problems with the students.”  She formed a unique technique for those times, where she divided the students into study groups while in class and the students worked together in solving math problems and working on special history reports and papers.

     A family friend of Florence Mary introduced her to Alfred Sandy, of Shoshone, after he had returned from World War II, when they showed up unannounced at her family home in Hagerman.  Florence graciously called a friend in town, and they all went to dance at “Half-Way” outside of Hagerman.  On the way back to Shoshone that evening, Alfred’s cousin said, “I’ll be the best man at your wedding.”  Alfred proposed to Florence in her home after properly courting and asking her father’s permission.  Ed was the best man at their wedding on October 19th, 1946.

     As she settled into life as a farmer/rancher wife and mother of 4 children, Florence Mary made it seem easy as she cooked for farm workers, smoothly ran her home, taught Sunday School and volunteered for a myriad of school and community activities.  She was always a gracious hostess and was an amazing cook!  Most meals were comprised of fresh baked bread, gravy and a pot-roast of some kind along with steamed vegetables from the garden and always homemade desserts.  Her calm demeanor and organized ways made meals around the table a joy for all present. 

     Her life of faith was at the heart of everything Florence Mary did!  She followed in the footsteps of her grandmother, Willa Arizona Justice, and her mother, Ethel (Justice) Jones as a member of the Methodist Church in Hagerman, throughout her life.  She sang duets in her earlier years, and then for over 70 years sang in the choir and played the handbells, always with her adorable smile.   She was a Methodist Church delegate for several years to the Regional Church Conference.  She actively participated in the “Walk to Emmaus” 27 times for these special spiritual weekend retreats for women.  She was trained as a lay speaker in the Methodist Church and when asked to pray or speak she would never hesitate to surprise people with her resonating full voice coming from such a small frame.   Her joy was ministering to and praying for women to know and follow Christ.  She and her friend, Marian Simonsen, made a great team as they visited with people in their homes around Hagerman to offer words of encouragement and prayer.

     Her faith journey and love for travel took her to a World Holy Spirit conference at Oral Roberts University in Tulsa, Oklahoma, where her daughter, Cheryl was living at the time.  She landed on a family trip in Europe at “LaBri” in Huemoz, Switzerland where she participated in a world prayer conference and heard the renowned Christian Philosopher, Francis Schaffer speak.  She loved enhancing her faith by attending conferences and reading inspirational books along with studying the Bible.  She never hesitated to pray for or with someone who needed emotional or physical healing. 

     She always loved adventure and traveling with her husband, family and friends on cruises and trips to England, Alaska, Louisianna, Hawaii, Florida, California and Branson, Missouri.  In recent years she loved to go on spontaneous adventures. She traveled to England with her grandson, Chad and daughter, Cheryl, to Washington D.C with her granddaughter, Anna, to Mount Rushmore with her son, Robert, and many road trips to Stanley and other locations with her daughter, Lora and great granddaughter, Allie.  Travel and exploration with her family was always her delight. 

     In 2008, Florence Mary participated in the Mrs. Senior Idaho Pageant and won 3rd runner up as well as receiving the “Best Philosophy of Life” award.  She recited it in poetry form and wherever she went she loved to share it with young and old alike.  When visiting her daughter, Cheryl who was living in Pasadena, California, Florence Mary recited it by heart to one of the young guards at the Norten Simon Art Gallery.  The young man was so moved by her words that he began to shed some tears.

     Love of Country and the freedoms our wonderful United States of America had afforded, motivated Florence Mary to be active politically in the Republican Party all her life.  She was president of the Gooding County Republican Women’s Club for 17 years and actively promoted conservative candidates both locally and nationally.  She was an active member and Chaplin of the Magic Valley Republican Women’s Club for several years.  Florence Mary was honored in 2022 by the State of Idaho Republican Party with a “Lifetime Achievement Award”.

     She was active in the Hagerman Historical Society, Hagerman Beautification Committee, and always a supporter and volunteer of school activities both when her own children were in school and into her later years.  She always had a special fondness for the music program at school and for The Future Farmers of America, as she attended and supported these programs.  She was very proud of each of her four children and grandchildren who all attended the Hagerman School System all 12 years and all graduated from Hagerman High School.  Her great granddaughter, Allie’s musical excellence and loving spirit brought so much peace and joy in Florence’s later years.

     Florence Mary’s endless energy, positive attitude towards life, and love of people made her a force to be reckoned with wherever she was focused.  She was a dreamer who never stopped thinking of plans and goals throughout her entire life as a centenarian.  Many people have asked, “What is your secret to life?”  She always told them, “I had a very happy childhood and a blessed life.  I have made good choices and honored the Lord through serving Him.”  “Well Done, Thy Good and Faithful servant.”  Mathew 25:21.

     Those who have gone home to the Lord before Florence Mary were:  Her parents, John W. Jones Sr., and Ethel (Justice) Jones.  Her husband of 59 years, William Alfred Sandy. Her brother, Bill Jones (Deloris).  Her husband’s parents, Horace and Ada Sandy.  Her beloved daughter, Lora Sandy Silver Lewis.

     Her remaining family:  Great Granddaughters Allie Silver and Emerie White; Grandchildren Anna Silver White (Travis White), Chad Silver, and Lee Andrew Silver; Children Robert Sandy, Cheryl Sandy-Miller (Steve Miller), and John Sandy (Robin Sandy); Son-in-law Mark Lewis; and many cousins, nieces, and nephews.

     All are invited to services on May 30, 2024.  The Celebration of Life will be held at the Hagerman Methodist Church at 3:30 pm followed by food and visiting around 5:00 pm.   

    All are invited as well to a brief graveside service at the Hagerman Cemetery the same day at 2:00 pm. 

     Florence Mary’s family send our love and appreciation to all who made her life so full and wonderful.  We would be grateful for any donations made in her honor to Hagerman FFA or the Hagerman Alumni Association.

     Funeral arrangements are under the care and direction of Demaray Funeral Service – Gooding Chapel.

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