Sandra Kay Reynolds

Sandy was the youngest of three children of Thomas D. and Goldie M. Reynolds. Sandy was born in Denver on February 10, 1948, and raised in Derby (now known as Commerce City), Colorado.

Sandy is survived by her sister Connie Fox; daughters Kristine Reynolds; Shelly Schmidt; Tina Werth (Darin); Lynda Smith; Megan Stephen (Eric); grandchildren Tia Gaskin; Tayler Sprowl (Kat); Bryce Werth (Gracie); Dylan Smith; Braydon Smith (Kaitlyn); Deja Stephen; EJ Stephen; birthday buddy Ryder Stephen; 6 great-grandchildren; and cherished nephews Rex Harris, Shawn Fox, Shane Fox, and many more nephews, nieces, cousins, and friends.

Sandy is preceded in death by her parents Thomas D. and Goldie M. Reynolds; brother Stephen Reynolds; brother-in-law Robert L. Fox; nephew Jimmy Harris; several cousins, and many very good friends.

The following services will be held on Friday, May 22, 2026:

· Visitation/Viewing from 9:30 a.m. to 11:10 a.m. at Olinger’s Highland Mortuary located at 10201 Grant Street, Thornton, CO 80229

Please note there is no official procession from the Mortuary to the Cemetery. The hearse will leave exactly at 11:30 a.m. to be at the cemetery by 12:00 p.m. If traveling from Mortuary to the Cemetery, please make sure to obey all traffic laws and have safe travels.

· Graveside Service at 12:00 p.m. at Elmwood Cemetery located at 14800 Old Brighton Rd., Brighton, CO 80601

· Reception from 1 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the Brighton Rec. Center (Room 101). The address is 555 N. 11th Ave., Brighton, CO 80601

Sandy attended Central Elementary School, Kearney Junior High School, and graduated from Adams City High School where she play drums in the marching band – GO EAGLES! After high school she lived in various parts of the Denver metro area including Pearl Street in Downtown Denver with her sister Connie. Sandy worked on East Colfax . . . tending bar (admit it you thought of something else 😊) at the Colony Lounge where there are many stories of bikers, bar fights (including a time where she broke off the end of a beer bottle on the edge of the bar to defend herself in a knife fight before the police arrived). Sandy also befriended many of the locals – both homed and unhoused - and there were many times the backseat of her convertible car was used as a bed for folks to sleep off their libations. Sandy’s work life over the years included: Robbins Incubators, Furr’s Cafeteria (please ask about the roast beef and gravy story), several other manufacturing and cleaning jobs, gas stations, and again some more Bar tending at the IVY-K bar in Commerce City. In the late 1980s one of her jobs ended and she was offered the opportunity to attend community college to learn a new trade in the printing and publishing industry where she received her associates degree (but left behind part of her thumb pad). After graduating, she landed a dream job with C & M Press LLC. Then in 2005 C & M Press LLC merged with A.B. Hirschfeld Press and become one of the largest commercial printers in the region known as National Hirschfeld LLC. But in just four short years, in January 2009, National Hirschfeld, a 102-year-old company, succumb to the changing economy and uprise in digital print/publishing and was forced to close. It was after this that Sandy retired.

In Sandy’s early 20’s she fell in love and gave birth to a daughter (Kristine “Kris” Reynolds). Sandy later ended up becoming a single parent and moved back to Commerce City to be close to her parents. She lived for a time in the Quebec apartments and later saved enough to buy a home in Commerce City. With the help of her parents, sister, and many friends, Sandy raised her daughter who also graduated from Adams City High School. Sandy became a 2nd Mom to her daughter’s best friend, Shelly. This relationship never dulled over the years and there were not many days over the course of their lives that they didn’t talk on the phone. Sandy participated in Kris’ various sports, music, and school activities; like the music boosters and helping to run the Bingo games that help raised funds for the students to attend several music events within and outside the state of Colorado. Sandy also became an unofficial foster parent to another one of her daughter’s middle/high school friends. This foster parent/child relationship resulted in an expansion of the family when Sandy’s foster son married his high school sweetheart. This netted Sandy with three more daughters – her son’s new wife and her two sisters. While her foster son and his wife did later divorce, Sandy maintained an extremely close relationship with all three of her “new” daughters and their families. The daughters called Sandy “Ma”, and their children considered Sandy their grandma (sometimes grammy 😊). Sandy has a total of eight grandchildren – 3 girls and 5 boys (some grown and others still growing), and there are also 4 great-grand kids with two more on their way (the stork is delivering in June and July of 2026).

Sandy has had a couple of loving and committed relations throughout her life and those individuals know who they are. She loved you and cherished the love you gave her.

Sandy was an animal lover and had many pets all through her life. One cat Sandy had come down with parvo, and Sandy warned her daughter Kris that things may not turn out good. But Sandy never gave up on that cat and hand-fed it and willed it to beat the odds and it did. That cat lived to be 20+ years. Another pet stand out was a puppy that was abandoned around a trash dumpster at one of Sandy’s jobs – she was just going to clean it up and find it a lovely home, but that home was apparently with Sandy. That dog never abandoned Sandy and wouldn’t leave Sandy’s side especially, when Sandy got sick. Kris had to physically come pick up that dog to go outside or feed it because it just wouldn’t leave Sandy’s side. And that special pup lived to be 16 + years.

Some of Sandy’s passions and hobbies included taking road trips with Kris and singing out loud various songs like Amazing Grace, Swing low Sweet Chariot, some Patti Page songs, and of course some Oldies from the 50s, 60s, and then country songs (Sandy and Kris wouldn’t have ever made it on “Voice” and often times apologized to the universe for their out of tune but joyful performances). Sandy also enjoyed being a member of the American Legion Auxiliary Post 1976, various types of sewing (crochet, knitting, cross-stitch, etc.), playing board games at the holidays – especially Yahtzee, Trivial Pursuit, Dominoes, and Taboo (please, please ask how Sandy and Connie were forbidden to be on the same team – it might have been during a game of Taboo and the word was stirrup or maybe Delivery Room), and everyone knows what a big sports fan Sandy was. She cheered on her favorite teams that included the Denver Broncos, Denver Nuggets, Colorado Avalanche, Colorado Rockies (most times ), CU Buffs (but especially the Football team), CSU Rams, and other regional college teams (Airforce Falcons and Wyoming Cowboys).

Let us not forget Sandy’s love of books, movies, and music. She liked mystery books like those written by James Patterson and Patricia Cornwell (and TV series like Dateline and 20/20), Good conquering Evil like in the Harry Potter books, and yes, she was on the fence about Team Edward or Team Jacob. Sandy got to see a variety of concerts over the years that included Elvis, Lee Greenwood, Willy Nelson, Gatlin Brothers, Beach Boys, and many others. She even volunteered to chaperone – most enthusiastically – a group of her foster’s son’s friends so that they could attend the Monsters of Rock concert at the old Mile High Stadium in June 1988. She went to see some musicals (Guys and Dolls, Chicago, Oklahoma, etc.) and listen to some rap music (You can’t touch this and of course some of the better rap too).

As you know Sandy was a good listener & gave great advice. She would be able to tell you the way it was. She wholeheartedly loved everyone that she let into her life. We will all greatly miss her. You know she will be listening and will be there when any of us need her advice.