Sandra Jean Boatman was born on October 10, 1942, and entered the eternal Kingdom of Heaven on October 20, 2026. She was born to Eugene and Oweda Pearl Barnhart in Canton, Ohio. Shortly after her birth, her father, Eugene, left to serve our country in World War II. After returning home, Sandra’s brother, Larry, joined the family.
Sandy was blessed with three wonderful children: Lesa Anderson, married to J.R.; Rick Gould; and Missy Menezes, married to Tim. She had five grandchildren whom she absolutely adored: Cody Anderson, married to Alana; Tiffany Quinn, married to Jason; Ashley Gould; Melanie Gould; and her beloved grandson Dustin Gould, who welcomed her into Heaven. And then came another of her greatest joys: her six great-grandchildren, who added even more love to a life already overflowing with it.
Sandy was a pioneer in her field, becoming the first woman licensed insurance agent in the state of California, all while raising three children on her own. After retiring from JCPenney, she owned and operated Country Hearts Ranch in Clovis, California, as well as a trucking business she shared with the love of her life, Bill Boatman.
She married our dad, grandfather, and beloved Boie in June of 1987, and their life together became one adventure after another. With a motor home, a Jeep, and a free spirit, the two of them traveled across North America, exploring the country and making memories along the way. They went Jeeping on some of the most beautiful and challenging trails the world had to offer, always side by side, hand in hand.
But if you asked what Sandy was most proud of, the answer would always be her family.
She and Bill nurtured their family and built a foundation rooted in love, hard work, and responsibility. They taught us the importance of showing up for one another, taking responsibility for our actions, and making the world a better place through dedication and hard work. Those lessons are among the greatest gifts they could have ever given us, and that legacy will live on through every one of us.
Sandy and Bill supported us in all our crazy ideas. Whether it was horses, showing livestock, rock crawling, hunting, or whatever else we could dream up, Grandma and Grandpa were there, cheering us on from the front row—or at least they would have been if they weren't off traveling somewhere!
It is impossible to capture an entire lifetime of love, adventure, hard work, and memories in just a few short paragraphs. So instead, we will honor her the best way we know how: by living a life she would be proud of. We will make memories, take lots of pictures, love our families fiercely, work hard, and never be afraid of the next adventure. Because that is what Sandy did, and that is what she taught us to do.
So, I will end with a phrase I still use to this day, one that used to drive us absolutely crazy whenever we asked where we were going:
“I am just around John Robinson’s barn.”
And somehow, I think we'll hear those words in our hearts for the rest of our lives.
Rest easy, Sandy. Your adventures here may be over, but your legacy lives on in all of us. We love you, and we will carry you with us always.
A Committal Service will be held at Clovis Cemetery, 305 North Villa Avenue Clovis, California, 93612, on November 6, 2026, at 11:00 am with a Celebration of Sandy's life following at The Rick Kelley Performance Horses, 9050 East Browning Avenue, Clovis, California 93619.
