Sandra Carolyn Phelps passed away peacefully on April 9, 2018 surrounded by loving family. Sandra was born on February 11, 1936 and grew up in Salt Lake City. Her youth was spent in Sugarhouse in the 1940s voraciously reading books, caring for her younger brother Rusty, dancing ballet and going to Lagoon with her friends. Sandra always had a quiet and shy nature, and the engaging stories she told of her girlhood fascinated her children.
While in her senior year at East High working at Mac's Sandwich Shop, Sandy met a dashing young man with a heavy New York accent who was serving in the ROTC program at U of U. George Augustus Phelps, Jr. quickly became the love of her life. They were married on June 7, 1954 - Sandy's High School graduation day and the same day that George received his commission as a US Marine Corp officer. George and Sandy were later sealed in the Los Angeles LDS Temple on May 16, 1959.
After their first few years as a young married couple being stationed in several different locations, Sandra and George settled down in California to start a family. They had 7 children who they raised in the Pacific Palisades and Malibu. While George was attending law school, developing a successful investment planning practice, and teaching, Sandra was equally busy creating a warm and loving home for the family. Her children especially remember the clothes she sewed for them, the creative Halloween costumes she crafted, and the skill and panache she brought to projects around the home from baking bread to upholstering furniture, to hanging wallpaper. Sandra's extraordinary creativity and talent as a writer of fiction, poetry, and essays on parenting as well as her personal journals, were remarkable. She expressed herself and her love for her family in these and in so many other ways.
Sandra was a lifelong faithful member of the LDS Church. She spent countless hours driving the children to ward activities at their closest ward house in the Pacific Palisades 30 miles away from their home. She would pile all the kids into the VW van and drive through snarled summer beach traffic with a determined and faithful spirit. Despite logistical obstacles, Sandra fulfilled her many Church callings with enthusiasm and quiet grace.
The family moved to Visalia, CA in 1977 where they opened a retail store. Sandra found so much joy working side by side with George and the kids. Sandra loved her Visalia ward and all her church callings. She had a special fondness for her calling as a seminary teacher where she was able to combine her caring spirit with her keen intellect. As was always her way, she reached out to people who were in the most need of support and comfort. Her help arrived in quiet ways, as she preferred to do these things without recognition or praise.
In their later years, George and Sandra enjoyed traveling, theater, and just being together. They returned to live in Salt Lake City to be near family. They enjoyed spending quiet time together as a couple, holding hands wherever they went. The deep loving bond they displayed is a lasting image for all their kids and grandkids.
After George's passing in 2012, Sandra spent her last quiet years enjoying visits from her children, 11 grandchildren, and 3 great-grandchildren. Sandra also looked forward to daily phone calls from her devoted brother Russ.
Sandra is preceded in death by Marguerite Stewart (mother), Russell Stewart, Sr. (father), Georgie (son), Chris (son), George (husband) and Russell Jr. (brother). Sandra is survived by her children Carrie (Misha), Jenny (Bill), John (Amanda), Katie (Joe) and Saam (Schon)
Visitation at 9:00 a.m., service at 9:30 a.m. on April 21, 2018 at Wasatch Hills Ward 2255 S. Wasatch Dr., Salt Lake City.
