Sandie "Sam" Dee Bender

Sandie "Sam" Dee Bender, loving daughter, mother, sister, and grandmother, died suddenly but peacefully in her home on December 3rd, 2015 in Austin, Texas at the age of 61. Sam was born on March 15, 1954, in Austin, Texas to Edith Holland and the late Charles Hinkley I.

Sam is survived by her mother, Edith Holland, of Austin; children, Alexandrea Bender and her spouse Cayce Crummer of Manchaca and Sterling Bender of Austin; siblings, Yolanda Hinkley of Austin, Dr. Charles Hinkley, II, and his wife, Suzannah, of New Braunfels, and Dr. Andrea Hester and her husband, Christian of Dallas; as well as her grandchildren, Arion Kimmelman and Skye and Aesun Crummer; nieces, Hannah and Lauren Hinkley; and nephews, Edward Dresklinski and his daughter Sophia, Kirk Reimer, and Ryan Hester. Sam is preceded in death by her father, Charles Hinkley I; stepfather, Eugene Holland; and sister, Shauna Jacobson.

Sam was an eccentric soul, and had a great sense of humor as well as a profound love of music and animals. She was also a talented artist, photographer, and singer. She began performing with her mother at age 5 in a family country and western band and sang her entire life, including as a featured artist on Austin City Limits. She will be greatly missed by her family.

Visitation will be from 6:00 to 8:00 pm Wednesday, December 9, 2015 at Weed-Corley-Fish Funeral Home 2620 S. Congress Ave., Austin, TX.

Funeral Services will be held at 1:30 pm Thursday, December 10, 2015 at Weed-Corley-Fish Chapel. Interment will follow at Onion Creek Memorial Park, Manchaca, Tx.