Sandra Jayne Carlyon

She was born July 27, 1957 in Mt. Lake, Minnesota to Jeanette (Sonnabend) and Alvin Christianson. Sandi was baptized and confirmed in the Christian faith at St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran Church in Darfur, Minnesota. She lived on the Christianson family farm with her parents and older sister, Florence, and the Ben Christianson family until she was in first grade and the family moved into Butterfield, Minnesota.

Graduating from Butterfield-Odin High School in 1975 in Butterfield, Minnesota, Sandi earned a B.S. degree in Mass Communications from Minnesota State University-Mankato in 1979.

That same year, she moved to San Antonio, Texas with her life-long friend and next-door neighbor, Shari (Ekstrom) Matyszczyk. At her first job at the Greater San Antonio Builders Association, she met her beloved friend and husband, Richard Scott Carlyon, and they were married June 12, 1982 at the T-Bar Ranch outside Bandera, Texas. She joined Scott as a member of Coker Methodist Church in San Antonio.

Sandi worked at several communications, advertising and public relations positions, spending 17 years in the Marketing department at Broadway National Bank. After 15 years, she retired from United Way of San Antonio and Bexar County in 2022.

Reading, crocheting, and snow skiing with Scott for many years were among her hobbies. The two travelled often to Santa Fe, New Mexico and later New Orleans, Louisiana. She loved her Saturday morning talks with her sister, Florence; flowers and herbs, the color pink, El Jarro de Arturo Mexican Restaurant and Dairy Queen. While she did not play any longer, she enjoyed listening to flute music.

Sandi is survived by her loving husband of 43 years, Scott; her sister Florence (Ric) Allen of Lakewood, Washington; nephews Michael (Linda) Allen of Dayton, Ohio; Jon (Danielle) Allen of Roy, Washington; and Joshua (Rachel) Allen of Tacoma, Washington; great nieces and nephews: Riley, Erin, Noah, Micah, Esther, Lily, Judah Allen, and Jackson Para. Survivors also include her aunts Clara Schenk, Luella and Charlene Sonnabend, all of Minnesota. She loved her many Christianson, Sonnabend, Carlyon and Kerr cousins and many friends in Texas and Minnesota. She is preceded in death by her parents; her mother and father-in-law, Ann and Richard (Dick) Carlyon and godson Andrew (Andy) Holland.

Services will be held Friday, January 23, 2026, at 12:00 noon at Coker Methodist Church, 14630 Wurzbach Parkway, San Antonio, Texas, with interment to follow at Mission Park (North) at Dominion, 20900 IH 10 West. Rev. Damon Relder will officiate.

If desired, donations in her memory may be made to Coker Methodist Church, St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran Church, United Way of San Antonio and Bexar County or the charity of your choice.