Sandra Lynn Smith

Sandy was a retired Respiratory Therapist for the University of Alabama Hospital (UAB) after over 20 years of service. Caring for others was Sandy’s passion in life. Just after high school, her first job was working with special needs adults at Waukegan Developmental Center, in Waukegan, IL. She continued her caring nature when she moved to Alabama where she worked in home health care for hospice patients. Sandy knew caring for others was what she wanted to do and continued her education to become a Respiratory Therapist, beginning her career at Boaz Hospital in Boaz, AL before moving to UAB. During her career at UAB, she also supervised other therapists while going back to school to get her bachelor’s degree. Of course, this was also the time when she was battling her first round of breast cancer. She was a fighter.

On October 21, 1978, she married the love of her life, Stanley Smith. She thought it to be so convenient to marry someone with the same last name, we all know she was not the best at changing things. Sandy and Stanley welcomed their only child Crystal, on Pearl Harbor Day, 1980. When Crystal was five, the family moved to Alabama. It was in AL that Stanley rekindled his love for horses and he and Sandy became the owners of many horses for over 40-years.

Crystal would become the passion for both Stan and Sandy with her love for horses. They were so proud of supporting her with traveling to horse shows, high school rodeos and her success as a veterinarian. Sandy was a huge support to her husband, Stanley the President of the Rainbow Saddle Club where she ran the entry booth, announced the classes, and made sure the concessions were stocked for each show.

Another one of Sandy and Stanley’s passions was for cruising, having taken their first cruise on Carnival’s Mardi Gras for their honeymoon. Even though Sandy worked with “Peggy” the travel agent to book the trips, it was Sandy who was the family Matriarch who orchestrated the cruises for family and friends. In fact, in October of 2021, the same month of their 43rd wedding anniversary, family and friends traveled with them on the brand-new Carnival Mardi Gras ship. Sandy loved cruising, the food, entertainment, excursions, being with friends and family and most importantly, the ship casino

Sandy cherished her three grandchildren. She cruised with them, camped with them, stayed with them while mom and/or dad were working and traveling. The memories they made together are endless and will be in their hearts forever.

Sandy is survived by her husband, Stanley Smith, daughter, Crystal (Jim) Whitehead, grandsons Elon, Luke, and granddaughter, Anna; mother-n-law, Ilasene Peters, sister-n-law, Tammy; siblings, brother, Leo (Linda) Smith, sisters, Diane (Mark) Tennyson and Janet Dever. Her beloved, aunt Darlene (Dan) Denzer and several nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends. Sandy was preceded in death by her parents, Leo, and Betty Smith.

A Celebration of Life will be held from 3:00pm-6:00pm on Saturday, May 3, 2025, at the Rainbow Saddle Club in Gadsden, AL.

We want to give special thanks to Dr. Gabriele Rocque, MD, Clair, at UAB pharmacy, and the staff at UAB Medicine for their kind care for our wife, mother, grandmother, and sister. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you make donations in Sandy’s memory to the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation.