Born March 24, 1943 in Peoria to Charles Raymond and Mildred Bernice (Newlun) Marlow, she married Phillip Leslie Coffrin on June 26, 1964 in Pekin. He died March 27, 2005 in Peoria. She later married Allen Franklin Gipson on May 24, 2008 in Washington. He survives.
Also surviving are one daughter, Cynthia (Jeff) Gress of Pekin; two stepsons, Allen (Sharon) Gipson of Kansas City, Kansas and Jarrod “Jerry” Gipson Macon, Georgia; her daughter-in-law, Deborah Coffrin of Mattoon; three grandchildren, Joshua Gress, Jonathan (Chelsea Davis) Gress and Samantha (Dan) Everett, four step-grandchildren, Jordan Gipson, Nick (Theresa) Gipson, Bailey (Wade) Callow and Hayden (Michael) Stamm; six great-grandchildren; three step-great-grandchildren; one sister, Pamela Brown of Pekin and many nieces and nephews.
She was also preceded in death by her parents; two sons, Brian Leslie Coffrin and Gregory Scott Coffrin; three brothers, Franklin Marlow, Charles Marlow, Jr. and Richard Marlow.
Sandy came to know Christ as her personal savior in June of 1970, a faith that shaped the direction of her life. She was passionately committed to serving her Lord and to serving others, carrying a clear sense of mission centered on helping and rescuing those in need. In addition to her service in the church, Sandy participated in more than 50 mission trips to Mexico.
Sandy devoted herself to her family as a stay-at-home mother, and she also supported her husband in his business, Midstate Heating and Cooling in Pekin. For many years, she worked as a nanny for six different families, bringing steadiness and attentiveness to the daily rhythms of care, and she retired in December 2007.
Sandy’s hospitality was one of the ways her love for others became tangible. She had a gift for cooking large meals, banquets and dinners that gathered people together. She also found enjoyment in shopping.
She was a member of Grace Church in Springfield and formerly a member of Bayview Baptist Church in Washington and Faith Baptist Church in Pekin, where she was a former Sunday school teacher, bus ministry captain and social committee chair.
Her funeral will be at 10:30 a.m. Friday, July 31, 2026 at Faith Baptist Church in Pekin. Rev. Darren Tharp, Rev. Eric Tharp, Rev. Russ Tharp and Rev. David Fox will officiate. Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday at Preston-Hanley Funeral Homes & Crematory in Pekin, and also from 9:30 to 10:15 a.m. Friday at Faith Baptist Church. Burial will follow the funeral service in Lakeside Cemetery in Pekin. The celebration of her life will then continue with a time of testimony, singspiration, food and fellowship at Faith Baptist Church.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Faith Baptist Church, 1501 Howard Court, Pekin, IL 61554.
To express condolences online, visit www.Preston-Hanley.com
