Sandy Isaac

Obituary of Sandy Lee Isaac

Sandra Lee Isaac (Richardson) was born August 10, 1950 to parents Ward “Bud” Richardson and Orine Cole (Gitchell) in Hale, Michigan. Sandy passed away on February 21,2017 at the Central Peace Health Complex in Spirit River at the age of 66, after fighting a long battle with cancer. As her parents divorced when Sandy was an infant, she lived with her great-grandparent at Whittemore, Michigan until she was six. At that time, her father remarried, and due to the failing health of her grandmother, she went to live with her father and his new bride. She became the eldest of 8 children to her father and was one of 5 to her mother. The family moved to Texas until 1962 when the journey to Canada began. They arrived in Clairmont, Alberta where they had cousins. Sandy started her Canadian schooling at Harry Balfour in grade seven, and graduated from Sexsmith High School, having transferred there to complete grade seven when the family moved to Sexsmith. In July of 1967 Sandy met Orvel while he was taking upgrading. They met at the old bus depot in Grande Prairie where she was waitressing and were married approximately 18 months later on December 21, 1968 in Edmonton, Alberta. They lived in Edmonton for a year and during that time; Dolan was born on June 24, 1969. They moved from Edmonton to Crooked Creek then north of Sexsmith. Michelle was born September 3, 1970 in Grande Prairie. Sandy and Orvel moved to Rycroft on June 1, 1971 where they purchased the old Bill English house and Orvel still resides there. Sandy was instrumental in setting up a kindergarten for Rycroft. A society was formed and classes began in September of 1973. She was president of the Rycroft Kindergarten until 1978. Sandy had been active in many groups and organizations throughout the years. She ran the Variety Market in Rycroft for 25 years, was a member of the Royal Purple, and grants coordinator for Rycroft Ag Society. She held Executive positions with Rycroft Home & School, Community Education council, Rycroft Municipal Library Board and Northern Alberta Recreation Association to name a few. Sandy was also secretary for the Rycroft Volunteer Fire Department and as Orvel served and Dolan and his son presently serve. Sandy has been employed at Courtesy Corner, Rycroft Hotel and the Signal. She was the weekly news correspondent for the Grande Prairie Herald Tribune where she started as a reporter before she was married and for Fairview Post for nearly 5 years. She was employed first as Community Coordinator by Rycroft Community & District Recreation Board in 1980, Municipal clerk by 1988 and in early 1995 she became CAO for the Village of Rycroft and was in that position until 2008. She sat on the Rycroft arena board in the 80’s and was a volunteer leader for the Red Cross. She was a member for Victims Assistance. Sandy retired from the Village of Rycroft May 27,2008 only to return as acting CAO the following February. She loved to garden and can fruits, vegetables, soups, sauces and anything she could get in a jar. She loved the company of her dogs and loved all animals! Except spiders!! Sandy loved to travel and had many talents. She loved to sew and used Artex paints, doing flower arranging and various other crafts The whole family square danced for several years in Woking, Rycroft and spirit River. She became a grandmother in 1991 and took that role very seriously, enjoying each of the six grandchildren she had. Sandy leaves to mourn her loving husband of 48 years, Orvel Isaac; son Dolan (Tracy) Jaydee, Jenna Lyn; Daughter Michelle (Danny Jones, Dustyn, and Jamie Jones); Michael (Kerri) Colton & Colby; parents Bud & Carol Richardson; brothers Bill (Sue) Gitchell, Danny (Pat) Richardson, Gerry (Kim) Richardson, Jim (Colleen) Richardson, James (Kay) Cole along with their children; sisters Kathy Richardson, LeeAnn Cole, Jayne (Kurt Sawyer) Martin, Jeanne (Larry) Semeniuk along with their children; brothers-in-law and sisters –in-law Norman (Agnes) Isaac, Ed (Dahlia) Isaac, Frank (Marj) Isaac, Helen (Stan) Smith, Phyllis Guenther and Carol Isaac along with their children. Sandy was predeceased by her mother Orine Cole, stepfather Norman Cole, Brother Jack Richardson, Sister Rose Richardson, granddaughter, Alyssa Stinson and two nieces, Jennifer Gitchell and Sonya Wagner. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to a charity of your choice; Sandy was fond of animal rescues. Funeral Service for Sandy Isaac will be held on Tuesday, February 28th at 1pm at the Community Memorial Hall, Rycroft. Followed by a private burial. Please join the family when they return for a luncheon at the Community Memorial Hall. Arrangements entrusted to Bear Creek Funeral Home (780) 830-7742 www.bearcreekfuneral.com