Annie Lois Davis Sands

Annie is survived by; son Cecil Sands, daughter-in-law Edna Sands, son-in-law Art Brown, granddaughter Christine Stryker, Amanda (Duncan) Macleod , Jessica (Stephen) Burge and Angela (Tim) McFarland and six great grandchildren: Daisy, Isaac, Trenton, Sam, Corbin & James

Annie was preceded in death by; her husband William Leroy Sands and her daughter Sue Ann Brown.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.olingerchapelhill.com for Annie's family. The family asks that donations be made to a your local Meals on Wheels in her honor, in lieu of flowers.

Annie Lois Sands Biography

Annie Lois Davis was born October 25, 1925 in Forgan, Oklahoma to James and Sarah Davis. Annie was number 9 out of 10 kids, the youngest to live to adulthood. Her baby brother died shortly after childbirth along with her mother when she was five years old. Her father, a farmer, moved the family to Sedgwick, Kansas. Growing up without her mother, and her father working hard to feed the family, Annie became very close with her siblings Murry and Delilah. They rode their horses to school every day. Annie started walking to church by herself at the age of 9, showing her strong will and independence. By the time she was a teenager, she determined to earn enough money to always go to a salon for a haircut; no longer allowing her dad to give her a pixy cut, his specialty.She graduated from Sedgwick High School in 1944. She had 12 classmates in her graduating class.

In 1946, Annie married a sailor named Amos Wilson in Goodland Kansas. They soon had a beautiful daughter named Sue Ann (also known as Susan) who was born in Flagler Colorado. After the birth of Susan, they were divorced because he was AWOL from the service.

Annie once again had a chance to develop her independence. She got a job at a local restaurant. A young farmer, named of William (Bill) Sands, stopped by frequently for a cup of coffee and to flirt with the tall curly haired waitress. Bill and Annie were married in December of 1948 in Denver CO. Shortly thereafter, they moved to Olathe Colorado, where Bill continued to farm. In 1951, they had a boy named Cecil.

Bill gave his best attempt at being a farmer, however eventually he got a job in a mine in Climax Colorado. They settled in Buena Vista and lived there for 10 years. Here Annie volunteered for the Boy and Girls Scouts supporting her children. She also worked at a local motel. During their stay in Buena Vista, her 2 kids became best friends for life. Susan met and married Larry Malleis. He proved to be a very loyal and faithful husband and son-in-law during the first years of their marriage. In the late 1970’s, Susan and Larry divorced. Annie became the proud grandma of Christine (Chris) in 1964 and of Amanda (Mandy) in 1967.

Bill, Annie and Cecil moved back to Salina Kansas in 1966. After graduating from high school, Cecil joined the Air Force. Bill's health started to decline, and Annie went to nursing school to help provide for the family, graduating from nursing school in 1970 as a Licensed Practical Nurse. After graduation, she worked for 15 years at Asbury hospital in Salina.

In 1974, Cecil married a cute red haired girl - Edna. Annie then welcomed 2 more granddaughters to the family, Jessica in 1979 and Angela, her birthday twin, in 1981.

With 4 granddaughters in Colorado, Bill and Annie had many adventures to the exciting town of Goodland Kansas meeting with Susan and Cecil’s families for long weekends of swimming and picnicking. It was in the 1970’s that Annie learned to swim and fell in love with the water. Well into her late 80’s Annie loved water aerobics.

In May of 1983, Annie welcomed Art Brown as a son-in-law. Art loved and cared for Susan, until her death in May of 2003. When Annie lost her daughter, she also lost her best friend.

In 1985, her husband Bill, after a long struggle with heart and lung diseases, passed away. Annie moved to Colorado soon afterwards to be close to her children and grand children. She bought a trailer home and lived alone for 20 years. With a pool in the community, Annie and her family could often be found by the pool sunbathing or splashing about in the pool. Her family also loved January barbecues and homemade mint chocolate ice cream. She always had candy stashed in her refrigerator door, and a dresser drawer full of Barbie dolls for her granddaughters. During this time, she did a lot of volunteer work at the local bread line and sold Avon. She also traveled with Susan and Art to art shows across the country.

In 1996, Mandy married Duncan Macleod, adding a grandson-in-law to Annie's family. In 2001, Angela married Tim McFarland; in 2002, Jessica married Stephen Burge completing the grandson-in-law package.

Annie moved to Arizona in 2002 with Susan and Art. After the death of Susan in 2003, and with great grandchildren being born in Colorado, she moved back to Littleton in 2004 where she lived independently until the age of 91.

She still had candy on her table for those who stopped by, and homemade cookies in the fridge ("I have to spoil my little boy.") until she moved in with Cecil and Edna in January of 2017. Living in Littleton, Annie saw each of her 6 great grandchildren the day they were born. She had 1 great granddaughter, Daisy, and 5 great grandsons: Isaac, Trenton, Samuel, Corbin and James.

Annie suffered from congestive heart failure. She was under Hospice care for 14 months and unable to live alone the last 9 months of her life. (The family thanks the Hospice team that took such good care of Annie during this time: Jean, her CNA, Betsy, her RN, Megan, her social worker, Diane, her Hospice volunteer and Ron her chaplain. We greatly appreciate them all!)

Early in the morning, on October 20th, 2017, just 5 days short of her 92nd birthday, Annie passed away peacefully in her sleep at the home of her son and daughter in-law. Her favorite song was "The Old Rugged Cross". On the morning of October 20th, she exchanged that old rugged cross for a crown.