Sandra L. Watford

Sandra L. Watford passed away peacefully in the early morning hours on November 26, 2011 after fighting cancer for nearly 30 years. Sandra L. Watford (Sandy) was born in the panhandle of Nebraska in the town of Chadron on March 30, 1943. She was born to Gordon and Helen Redfern. She grew up on a farm with 3 sisters and a brother. One of her favourite quips was that her dad was an equal opportunity employer. She and her sisters drove as many truck loads of wheat to town as her brother did. She attended grammar school and high school at Chadron Prep School and graduated high school in 1961, the last graduating class before the school closed.

Attending Chadron State College was an understood next step in the Redfern family. Sandy frequently stated that her parents pretty much said the children could go to college anywhere they wanted to, so long as they were home for dinner and slept in their own beds. She had definite plans to attend Chadron State. After graduating she began her teaching career.

After college she married Lyndell Nelson and they became the parents of two daughters; they later divorced. She continued to teach from time to time in Colorado and later started working for Ford Aerospace Corporation in 1982 as a secretary. At Ford Aerospace, she met, and subsequently married Spurge Watford, in 1984. They forged a strong partnership for 27 years. Upon marrying Spurge, she gained two stepdaughters, Kelley and Becki.

In 2002, Sandy and Spurge realized they were suddenly in the ranks of millions of others that were raising grandchildren on a full time basis with Brittany, Melody and Jayden. In concert with raising grandchildren, Sandy became a co-leader of a support group for grandparents raising grandchildren and was a key person in coordinating the grandparent raising grandchildren activities with the El Paso County Department of Human Services.

Sandy devoted generous energy to causes she cared about from the time she was a child in 4-H, on to high school and college. Her current passions included Grandparent Support Group, Bible studies, First Presbyterian Church Pathfinders, sewing, and collecting friends. She has been involved in many activities over the years including being active in her HOA, and was an active participant in convincing the City to develop a multi-use trail through her neighborhood which is part national rails to trails system. She has attended and /or co-led Bible Studies for many years. In 1991, she made all the dresses for her daughter Becki’s wedding – working during each time that chemotherapy side effects were somewhat reduced. Subsequently, she had her own business for a few years sewing out of her home (specializing in bridesmaids dresses). The grand finale of her pleasure in sewing came two years ago by making each of her sisters, her daughter, Julie, and herself coats out of her Dad’s old farm overalls and shirts. She later stated this was “Unbelievable fun!”

In the spring of 2006 a blood test and a subsequent PT scan showed the cancer had returned and had metastasized. Her final five years have been filled with ups and downs. She felt her job was being a guinea pig for cancer treatments. In her final meeting with her Oncologist, Dr. Sue Kim at Pikes Peak Cancer Centers, Dr. Kim stated that Sandy has not only been an inspiration in surviving cancer for almost 30 years, but also had been a pioneer in cancer research. Sandy contributed a great deal to the science of treating cancer and to the knowledge of Dr. Kim by utilizing numerous cancer drugs as they were emerging and being tested.

She was preceded in death by her parents, granddaughter, Lorna Stewart, her brother Ken Redfern, stepdaughter Becki Marietta and nephew, Troy Rickenbach.

She is survived: by her husband Spurgeon E. Watford; her daughter Julie (Tim) McMakin, her daughter Andrea Cruz, her step daughter Kelley Watford; grandchildren Logan and Landon Stewart, Tanner and Taylor McMakin, Jayden and Justin Hardman, Brittany and Melody Watford; sisters: Marilynne (Rick) Rickenbach, Sharon (Bob) Rickenbach, Linda Redfern, and her sister-in-law JoAnn Redfern, her lucky nieces and nephews, aunts and uncles, cousins and her many cherished friends.

There will be a viewing at Swan-Law Funeral Home on Tuesday, November 29, 2011 from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.. Services will be at First Presbyterian Church on Wednesday, November 30, 2011 at 11:00 a.m. with John Goodale conducting the service. A reception will be held in Fellowship Hall at First Presbyterian Church following the service. Graveside service is scheduled for Wednesday at 3:00 p.m., Memorial Gardens Cemetery, 3875 Airport Road, Colorado Springs.

In lieu of flowers, attendees are encouraged to give to their charity of choice or to Sandy’s favorite charity: Victory Village Christian Academy at Heart Ministries, P.O. Box 2068, Hutchinson, KS 67504-2068.