Sandra "Sandy" Deason

When reflecting on the life of Sandra Deason, it is easy to see the sacrificial love she had for her family. She was kind, loving, and compassionate with a selfless spirit that knew no bounds. Sandy was the sort of person who would do anything for anyone, and her friends and loved ones were her greatest gift. Sandy enjoyed looking her best, and as a longtime resident of the community she touched the lives of others in such a special way. Deeply loved, she will be forever missed. During the first half of the 1940s, the eyes of our nation were focused overseas as WWII raged on. Countless young American men and women answered the call to serve, and rationing on common goods became a new way of life. It was during this eventful time that William and Ruth (Daniels) Meyle were pleased to announce the birth of the baby girl they named Sandra on March 22, 1944, in Plainwell, Michigan. She was the youngest of three girls as she was raised alongside her older sisters, Linda and Ann. Sandy loved her parents and sisters, and she appreciated how hard her parents worked to provide for them as best they could. One of her favorite childhood memories was sitting on her father’s lap, sipping coffee. Sandy’s father was an expediter for Valley Metal while her mother was a homemaker. When she was about four her family moved to Yorkville, Michigan, and she called this house the “crooked house” because the floor slanted to the point where she rode her trike down the slanted part. When she was seven, Sandy and her family moved to Plainwell where she spent the remainder of her childhood. She was known as the family biter and even threatened to bite others as a means to secure their compliance. In many ways, Sandy was a young girl of her generation. She made friends in every neighborhood she lived in, and she also enjoyed playing paper dolls with her sister. Sandy started school at the elementary school in Yorkville, and once they moved to Plainwell she attended Plainwell Elementary School and then Plainwell High School. After graduating from high school in 1963, Sandy attended cosmetology school and became a beautician. Not to be forgotten during Sandy’s high school years was a friendship that developed into something deeper with one of her classmates. His name was Charles “Chuck” Deason, and they were part of the same group of friends. After graduating they began dating, and it didn’t take them long to fall in love. With a desire to spend the rest of their lives together Sandy and Chuck were married on December 10, 1965. The newlyweds settled into an apartment over a store in Plainwell. Sandy really loved living there and had always wished that their time there was longer. Not long after they were married, Chuck was drafted into the military during the Vietnam War. The couple moved to Georgia while he fulfilled his training, and when he was sent to Vietnam Sandy moved back with her parents. Chuck was injured in Vietnam and was eventually moved back to Walter Reed Hospital. Sandy flew there to be by his side. There was no greater gift in Sandy’s life than her family. Together she and Chuck welcomed two children, Heather and Jason, into their hearts and home. Prior to having her own children her mothering instincts were so strong that she thought of her older sisters’ children as her own. Sandy was active in their lives and found such joy in being with them. Once she became a mother, she was the classic mama bear who was the most caring and giving mother anyone could have. Sandy always said that she knew her children better than anyone, and she could always tell by the look on their face how they were doing. Pets were also additional members of Sandy’s family beginning when her father brought home a dog named Tag when she was a young girl. In her own home pets such as their Great Dane, Drew, and their Miniature Schnauzer, Whiskers. Sandy was devastated when Whiskers died, and just a few months before Heather was born they brought home an Irish Setter they named Brandy who was followed by a Westie named Alex. Sandy was active in the lives of her children, often volunteering in her kids’ classrooms while they were in grade school. No matter the complaint or injury, Sandy’s automatic response to her children was, “Put Mycitracin on it,” or, “Roll down your window.” Although caring for her home and family kept Sandy busy, she did enjoy pursuing many interests as well. She was creative and crafty as well as an excellent seamstress. Sandy made pillows, curtains, aprons, and Sylvester and Tweety Bird Halloween costumes from scratch for her kids one year. She also recovered chairs and a fabric headboard. For years, Sandy enjoyed trips to the casino with her husband and friends. During her later years, she was over the moon excited to become a grandmother, and she loved spending time with her grandchildren whenever she could. In addition, Sandy had weekly breakfast or lunch visits with her sisters. She liked to look her best and always had her makeup on and just the right jewelry, too. One of the things Sandy will be most remembered for was her compassionate and tender spirit. On one occasion, she stopped while driving to help an elderly woman who was struggling to lift something large and heavy into her trunk. Although her daughter was not in favor of stopping, it illustrates how Sandy’s first thought was always to help others. Just as she was there to care for her husband when he was recovering from his war injuries, she was there to care for him during his two-year battle with cancer. Sandy was devastated when he passed away in 2005. All who knew Sandra Deason would agree that she was truly beautiful on the inside and out. She was a loyal friend and the sort of person who never met a stranger. Sandy was the glue that held her family together, and she was her children’s biggest supporter and their fiercest defender. She treasured her roles as a wife and mother, but she just might have argued that nothing was better than becoming a grandmother later in life. Life will never be the same without Sandy here, but she leaves behind a timeless legacy that her loved ones will proudly carry on in her footsteps. Deason, Sandra 3/22/1944 - 11/9/2021 Sandra "Sandy" Deason, of Plainwell, passed away Tuesday, November 9, 2021. Sandy is survived by her children, Heather (Matt) MacDonald and Jason (Heidi) Deason; grandchildren, Gavin, Hayden, Karis, and Karson; sister, Ann (Dan) Pell; brother-in-law, Marvin Shook; and several nieces and nephews. Sandy is preceded in death by her parents; her husband of 39 years, Charles Deason; and sister, Linda Shook. Visitation will be held for Sandy on Saturday, November 13, 2021 from 11am to 1pm at McCowen & Secord Family Funeral Homes, Marshall – Gren Chapel, 120 S. Woodhams, Plainwell, MI 49080. Memorial service to follow visitation at 1pm at the same location. www.mccowensecord.com. (269)685-5881. In lieu of flowers donations can be made to Kalamazoo Nature Center or Alzheimer's Association.