SANDRA JEAN JOHNSON

    Sandra Jean Johnson, daughter of Marcella (Brown) Johnson and Jesse Johnson, was born January 14, 1950 at Lincoln, Nebraska. Sandy grew up at Diagonal and graduated from Diagonal high school in 1968.
    Sandy’s hobbies included crocheting and her grandsons all have an afghan made just for them. With each new niece or nephew for Heather and Lee would come a baby afghan from Sandy. In addition to the afghans, Sandy made bright orange hunting stocking caps for Lee and the boys. To say that Sandy was a proud grandma and loved her grandsons would be an understatement. She never missed an athletic event and Levi remembers how she would show up two hours early for his baseball games. She always had the same seat whether it was baseball, football, basketball or track events; and she got the same seats because she showed up so early! Sandy had her Raider sweatshirt with the boys pictures pinned on and was ready for the next game. Lincoln remembers her ‘bomber’ hats that she liked to wear in the winter; they may not be typical for a grandma to wear but she had to be like the kids. Craven remembers that every year for the holidays, grandma would come out and make a double batch of chex party mix. Sandy was a very loving mother to Heather and was always available to her; whether dropping off a Mountain Dew or to just check and see what everyone was doing. Sandy will be missed at games and events and in her family’s everyday lives, but Sandy will be an angel on her family’s shoulder.
    Sandy passed away unexpectedly on September 4, 2012 at her home in Mount Ayr. She was preceded in death by her mother, Marcella Briner.
    Those left to cherish her memory include her daughter, Heather Martin and husband Lee of Mount Ayr, Iowa and their children, Levi, Lincoln and Craven; father, Richard Briner and wife Dora of Creston, Iowa; brothers, Jim Johnson and wife Joyce of Mount Ayr, Iowa, Allen Briner of Kansas City, Missouri and Steve Briner and wife Paula of Newell, Iowa; special niece Jayla Johnson of Mount Ayr, Iowa; aunt, Annabelle Jones of Mount Ayr, Iowa, and other nieces, nephews, relatives and friends.
    Watson-Armstrong Funeral Home in Mount Ayr was in charge of the arrangements.   
    A visitation was held on Saturday, September 8, 2012, at the Watson-Armstrong Funeral Home in Mount Ayr. Honorary pallbearers were members of the Mount Ayr Raiders Football Team.
    Memorial fund has been established in Sandy’s name to be decided later.