Sandra Louise Churchill

Sandra, nick named Sandy, or as her husband called her “Weesie”, was born and raised in Battle Creek, Michigan. She was raised by her mom and dad, Richard, and Elizabeth (Betty) Shulters along with her brother Ronald Shulters. She had a typical American childhood, hardworking parents, friends and spent her summers playing outside in the neighborhood.

When Sandy entered middle school, she met William “Bill” Churchill, he tried to kiss her in sixth grade and she spit in his face. But he must have found that charming, because they became boyfriend and girlfriend by the time they entered Lakeview High School. They were quite the couple, Bill was the captain of the varsity football team, my mother was the lead Majorette. She was also on the Lakeview Winter Fantasy Chorus line. Her classmates elected her to be their Homecoming Queen in 1955, their senior year. She had many friends and continued to visit and keep in touch with them for as long as her children can remember. They were a very close-knit group of friends. They graduated in 1956, Bill joined the Marine Corp and Sandy went to nursing school to become a Licensed Practical Nurse. Sandy and Bill got married on November 23, 1957. They had a son Michael Churchill in 1958, a daughter Lori Churchill 1960 and their favorite child Christina “Christi” Burgess in 1966.

The Churchill family moved to Portland, Oregon in 1968. They moved into a quaint house with awesome neighbors right across the street. When their neighbors, the Hamm’s moved, unbelievably another awesome family moved in, the Hefeneaders. Sandy’s LPN license didn’t transfer to Oregon, It seemed unfortunate at the time, but she had no idea know the group of lifelong friends she was about to meet. She went to work for Darlene Hakola at her Hair Salon, DAR DEN’s, there she became an excellent receptionist and took on the role of taking care of the ladies who worked there. When DAR DEN’s was sold many many years later it was renamed Mandela’s however, she stayed as the receptionist with a lot of the same women she worked with before. When Mandela’s was sold mom got a job at Grand and Benedicts, where she met even MORE lifelong friends, and most are present here today as well. Sandy was very stressed at her new job as a switchboard operator, it was busy, it was complicated, and she wanted to do well. Once again, Sandy’s determination and commitment to the people she worked for, was not going to let it break her. Inevitably, she conquered that switch board which earned her the loving nick name “switchboard Sandy”. As you can tell family and friends were very important to Sandy, she loved all of you.

Sandy willingly sacrificed for the family, she worked hard to raise her children practically by herself because Bill traveled for a living until Christi was 14 years old. When Bill wanted to start his own business, Sandy made sure the family had everything they needed, even though I’m sure it was tough starting a small company. The kids never went hungry, and always had a roof over their heads.

Sandy was a much stronger person than people thought, she happens to be one of the strongest woman her children knew, nothing could break her. if you didn’t know her, you would think she was just a beautiful, nice, friendly, and generous person who was always dressed to perfection. But she was more than that. She was classy, she was protective, and she was brave. Decades ago, while Sandy was gardening, her neighbor ran out of their house screaming and carrying their teenage son. Their son wasn’t breathing, and they were yelling for help. Sandy ran over to see if she could help, they laid him on the ground and Sandy wiped the vomit from his mouth and began CPR, although she suspected he was already dead because his lips were blue and rigor mortis had set in. But she kept up the CPR until the ambulance arrived. She didn’t break down until after she went back into her house. Bill was out of town, and the children were grown and no longer lived there. But one of her children came back to the house after the incident so she didn’t spend the night on her own.

When Sandy and Bill went on vacation in March 2002, they were headed to Disney World for the first time. On their way there, they stopped and visited friends and family along the way. They were in Holiday, Florida, on April 2nd, and Bill had a massive stroke, it damaged three parts of his brain and left him incoherent and completely paralyzed on the left side. Sandy was devastated, they all were. Thanks to Sandys employer Frank “HF” Phillips owner of Grand and Benedicts, she was able to life flight him back to Portland where he received Physical therapy and some much-needed care. She somehow found an inner strength to take on this new chapter in her life. She took care of him for 14 years, at the beginning she had to rely on an adult care facility but came home to take care of him. Once Sandy retired, she took care of Bill around the clock. Bill was a big guy, Sandy was petite, how she managed to move him and assist in his daily routine is astounding. Sandy’s children believe that the love she had for Bill gave her superpowers, Bill was her world. She took care of him until he died on Christmas Eve 2015. Her children believe their mothers love and by the grace of God is the reason they got an additional 14 years with him after his stroke.

Sandy loved the Holidays, Christmas was her favorite, it was also Bill's Birthday. Sandy insisted Bill's birthday gifts were wrapped in birthday paper. She went all out decorating the house, it was called Sandyland, they can’t remember who coined that phrase but that’s what it was called. Sandy listened to the radio station 62 KGW, she patiently waited for Craig Walker to come on the radio to play Mele Kaliki Maka every Christmas. She loved that song and often added a little Hula dance with I, it was adorable. She decorated for every holiday, Easter, Thanksgiving, fourth of July, you name it there was something for every holiday. She was a huge supporter of the Camp Fire girls, and she took the time to make the basic uniforms that were required.

She had many talents, she was a very gifted painter, she was a masterful seamstress, she could knit and crochet, she loved gardening, and her yard and flower beds were extremely manicured, she was unbeatable at the game of yahtzee and gin rummy, unless she was playing against Lori who cheated at the game. she loved to play board games with family, she was the craftiest person ever, she could get a few items from the craft store and make beautiful creations for friends and family. She loved Hummingbirds, and they loved her.

She had a great sense of humor and loved to laugh, she was easy to make laugh, the family grew up with lots of jokes, laughter, and teasing each other in a nice way. Sandy was devoted to donating blood, always the caregiver.

When Sandys health started to decline, she moved in with her daughter and son in law. Within the next six years she was able to enjoy trips to Palm Springs, Yosemite National Park, Sequoia National Forest, Grand Canyon, Moab, Utah boating down the Colorado river, Denver Colorado to visit her oldest best friend since she was 3 or 4. She had many friends that came to visit, take her to lunch, help with canning pickles and just hanging out and laughing, she hung out in the swim spa. She was always present for semi annual family gatherings with her children. Grandchildren and Great Grandchildren.

On 12/25/1937 her husband Bill was born, ironically Sandy passed at 12:25 on November 25th, 2023, she took her last breath at home surrounded by loved ones. She can never be replaced and will forever be dearly missed; she will be remembered and eternally in our hearts.

Preceded by

Parents Richard and Elizabeth”Betty” Shulters

Husband William Churchill

Brother Ronald Shulters

Survived by

Son Michael Churchill

Daughter Lori Churchill

Daughter Christina Burgess

Son in law Shawn Burgess

Grandson: Bo Jacob Peterson, his wife Rebecca Peterson

Great Grandchildren: Tristen, Bear, Francesca, Samuel and one on the way.

Grandson: Paul Justin Key and his fiancé Maya Rivera.

Granddaughter: Jessica Brown and her Husband Jason brown

Great Grandchildren: Peyton, Rhett, Raelynn and Walker.

Grandson: Casey Burgess and his wife Savonne Burgess

Great Grandchildren Stephen, Sabastian, Sophie and Amelia.

Grandson: Kaipo La’a Oili wife Dee La’aOili

Great Grandchildren: children Elizabeth, Eden and Kai.