Sandra Lee Willis, 66, of Vero Beach, FL., died December 20, 2007, from breast cancer. Originally from Easton, MD., she was born July 11, 1941. Though far too short, Sandy enjoyed a wonderful life. With an independent and adventurous spirit, she experienced hiking in the Himalayan Mountains of India, above the Arctic Circle in Finland, traveling throughout Europe; training with the circus in Tallahassee, FL., becoming a teacher and raising two adoring children.
Sandy earned a Bachelors degree in Constructive Design from Florida State University and was an avid artisan and crafter all her life. Sandra also had a passion for family and heritage. As a free-lance genealogist for over 30 years, she assisted others in researching their familial lines as well as amassing a considerable database of her own family in personal records and on http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~mdwillis/. Beginning in 1965, Sandy lived in the Bahamas for 10 years where she began to raise her family. There, she also founded, administered, and was the sole teacher for grades K-6 in a one room school house. She moved back to the States and earned a Masters Degree in Special Education from Southern Mississippi University. Sandy then taught for 23 years, fulfilling her dream to enrich the lives of children with special needs. She was a loving mother, daughter, sister and friend and will always be remembered for her thoughtfulness, intelligence and earnest dedication.
Sandra is survived by her parents, Roy and Dorothy Willis of Vero Beach, FL; brother, Lee Willis and wife Nancy of Bel Air, MD; son, William Willis Arnold of Richmond, VA; daughter, Maryhelen Arnold Wesner and husband Mark of Milwaukee, WI; granddaughter, Avery Wesner of Milwaukee, WI. born just nine days earlier; cousins, Truus Hermans and husband Frits of Venray, Holland; Mary VanderLogt, Florence Hoes, Scott Baeten and Carrie, all of De Pere, WI, Maureen Baeten and John of Fond Du Lac, WI; and many special friends.
No services are scheduled at this time.