Sandra Jeanne Error Hutchings passed away peacefully on February 27, 2024 at Covington Assisted Living Center, surrounded by her loving family. Sandra was born on May 10, 1940 in Murray, Utah, to Michael George Error and Geneva Randall. Her early life was marked by instability, living with different relatives until she went to live with her mother and stepfather (Herbert Michelson) at the age of five.
At the age of 14, Sandra moved with her family to Kearns, Utah. By this time, her family had expanded to include her sisters, Christine and Penny. She attended Cyprus High School in Magna, Utah, where she met her sweetheart, Roger Hutchings and made many life-long friends. Sandra and Roger married on March 15, 1957. Despite their young ages of 16 and 18, being together was the most important thing that they could imagine. Their marriage was later solemnized in the Salt Lake Temple.
They settled in Magna, later buying a home and raising their family which included three children: Brad, Diane, and Jeffrey. After a particularly crippling 7-month strike at Kennecott where Roger worked, and after the birth of her third child, Sandra made the difficult decision to temporarily enter the workforce in 1967 to help bolster the family finances.
After living in their Magna home for 23 years, Sandra and Roger purchased what they hoped would be their dream home, a place where they would retire after they completed their careers. Unfortunately, shortly after moving, her sweetheart and best friend was diagnosed with terminal cancer and she was widowed in 1985 at the age of 45. The days following Rogers’ death were some of the darkest times of Sandra’s life.
Though her original plans for employment were temporary, Sandra turned out to be very talented at finance and management and she worked her way from an entry-level bank teller to become president of Cyprus Credit Union, one of the largest credit unions in Utah, on April 15, 1981. Although unplanned, her long career with the credit union was ultimately her salvation, and provided her with additional purpose and a way to support herself after the passing of Roger. The people at Cyprus Credit Union were a close group and became Sandra’s extended family for many years. She retired from the credit union in June, 1995.
Sandra married Courtney Fairbourne on September 2, 1994. Courtney was part of her original close-knit group of friends from her years at Cyprus High School as well as Roger’s best friend. Sandra and Courtney spent many happy years together traveling far and wide, and later moved to Hurricane, Utah, where they regularly hiked around Zion National Park. Courtney passed away from COVID on January 6, 2021.
Sandra promised herself that her children would always feel loved and wanted. She kept her promise.
Whether it was week-long stays in rustic cabins near Flaming Gorge, weekend and longer jaunts in a tiny camping trailer, or staying/working at their cabin at Timberlakes, we did just about everything together as a family. After Sandra moved to Hurricane, she shared her love of Southern Utah with all of us. We’ll never forget the trips to Marv’s, the hikes in Zion, and the wicked games of Mexican train.
Sandra was preceded in death by her parents, a sister (Marilyn) and her two husbands. She is survived by her three children, Brad (Beth) Hutchings, Diane (Bill) Russell, and Jeff (Susan) Hutchings; her siblings, Christine (Jim), Penny, Steve, Marie, Michael, Sharon; and 12 grandchildren, four great-grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews.
The family wants to thank all of the staff at Covington Assisted Living Center for their kindness and care during the last few years of Sandra’s life.
Visitation will be held on Monday, March 11 at 10:30 AM with a short memorial service to follow at 11 AM at the mortuary at Wasatch Lawn, 3401 S Highland Dr. Millcreek, UT 84016. Please visit www.dignitymemorial.com for details and online condolences.
