Sandra Louise Gilbreath

Sandra (Sandy) Lousie Gilbreath was born on October 9, 1951, in Lakewood, Los Angeles County. California. She was born with Spina Bifida and suffered many kidney problems due to this. Sandy was unable to walk during her early years. Her mother and dad took her to see Oral Roberts when he was in the Los Angeles area and she was healed on stage and able to walk. In 1955 she and her family moved to Garden Grove, California. One of the exciting things she had there was Disneyland being built about 1 mile away from her home. Every night when it turned dark, she was able to watch the fireworks with her sister Joy from their bedroom window before bedtime. Sandy attended Crosby Elementary School and then Isaac Walton Jr. High School in Garden Grove.

In June 1965 her family moved to Littleton, Colorado where she lived in the Columbine Knolls area and attended Bear Creek High School in Lakewood, Colorado where she graduated in 1970.

After graduating from high school Sandy moved to Greeley, Colorado. She was highly involved with her church. She was able to go to Scotland for about 3 months where she was very much involved in teaching the word of Christ to the people in Scotland. After she came home Sandy had decided she wanted to become a teacher. She attended University of Northern Colorado (UNC) and graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree for teaching. This wasn’t good enough for this strong-willed girl so she went on to get her Master’s Degree in Special Ed. She wanted to help children that had special needs like herself. Sandy worked in the Greeley school system from the 1980’s until she retired during the Covid-19 time period. Her students adored her.

Sandy lived a simple and quiet life in her Greeley home for over 40 years along with her two cats Ashes and Misty. She never complained about how little money she had or how hard it was becoming for her. She always believed that God would provide, and he always did.

Sandy was pronounced dead in her home on Sunday, February 22, 2026. She left behind her mother Verna Gilbreath from Littleton, CO, her sister Joy Cardarelle-Ross (brother-in-law William Ross), from Castle Rock, CO, 4 nephews Tim, Mike, Rick and Kenneth (K.C.) Cardarelle, several aunts, uncles, cousins, her best friend, LaVeta Luther along with several other friends. She will be deeply missed and forever remembered for her faith, laughter and bright smiles.

Sandy was cremated and at a later time this year will be laid to rest at the Lakeview Cemetery, Windsor, Colorado.