Sandra Jo Taylor

Sandra Jo Taylor, 83, passed away on February 21, 2026, at 10:52 a.m. in Portland, Oregon. She and her grandson, Cody, had just moved to Portland last December, to be closer to her son, Dr. Randall Blazak. Born on January 27, 1943, Sandra will be remembered as a resilient, optimistic, empathetic, hard-working, compassionate, and inspirational woman whose steady presence and caring heart touched many lives.

Born and raised in Leipsic, Ohio, Sandra carried the values of her upbringing throughout her life, shaped in part by the guidance of her mother, Cleo Taylor. Those who knew her best saw in her a deep sense of empathy and kindness—qualities she lived daily and passed on to others. While she never attended college herself, she highly valued education. Her support helped her oldest son to become a tenured university professor.

Sandra pursued her professional path with determination and initiative, opening her own engineering consulting business. Her work reflected the same resilience and diligence that defined her character, and she approached each endeavor with purpose and Integrity. She worked one her business to the last days of her life.

Outside of work and family, Sandra found joy in many interests. She loved horses and music, playing both the saxophone and piano, and she once won a contest that allowed her to meet Louie Armstrong. She enjoyed cooking and was especially known for her prize-winning cheesecake, a signature gift that became part of her legacy. Sandra also loved writing and was in the process of writing a book, and she found comfort and inspiration in reading.

Sandra’s life was rooted in family. She was a mother, and that role remained central to who she was and how she loved—steadfastly, compassionately, and with quiet strength, humor, and patience. Sandra raised two sons, Randy and Ronnie, and one grandson, Cody, in outside of Atlanta, Georgia. She was greatly loved by all who knew her.