ALVA, Okla. — Sandra Kaye Surface, daughter of Alice V. Willis and Samuel E. Crouch was born in Quincy, Illinois on Jan. 7, 1943. She went to be with the Lord April 14, 2018.
Sandra was raised in Newark, Texas by her mother Alice V. Willis and her step-father Melvin Louis Brown. In 1990, she reunited with her biological father Samuel E. Crouch and met her half-siblings. This family reunion was a blessed event for Sandra.
In 1959, Sandra met the love of her life on a blind date arranged by her uncle. On June 4, 1960, she married Darrell Surface in Rhome, Texas. To this union were four children, Virginia Lee, Patricia Louise, D. Dean, and Marianna Lizabeth.
Sandra began her homemaking years on a ranch in Texas where Darrell was a ranch hand. She became a master of making jelly and shooting rattlesnakes with a rifle. She maintained her title of homemaker as they moved to Oklahoma and then to Kansas. In 1985, they moved to Kiowa, Kan., where she was able to open her own business. Sandra was a very talented seamstress and was able to share that talent with many. She found great joy in working with her hands and teaching the next generation the art of sewing.
Sandra enjoyed working with children. For many years, she invested her time in children’s ministries in her local church. After moving to Kiowa, she created the King’s Club after school Bible program for elementary age students. Through this ministry, she shared the love of Jesus and created loving memories for all the children she came in contact with.
Sandra enjoyed several hobbies. She enjoyed playing golf with her husband and family, decorating cakes, and rooting for the Dallas Cowboys. Sandra loved spending time with her grandchildren. One of her and Darrell’s favorite times of the year was Grand Week in which all the grandchildren came to visit. Fun was had for all and lasting memories were created.
Sandra is preceded in death by her husband, Darrell Surface; her parents, Alice Willis, Melvin Brown, and Samuel Crouch; mother-in-law, Hazel Surface; father-in-law, Paul Surface; brothers, Samuel Crouch and Ricky Brown; and sister-in-law, Barbara Surface. Sandra is survived by three daughters, Virginia Immediato, and her husband, Rich, of Lyons, Kan.; Tricia Reiser and her husband, David, of Great Bend, Kan.; Marianna Farney and her husband, Brandon, of Kiowa, Kan.; one son, Dean and his wife, Kristi, of Owasso, Okla.; grandchildren, Priscilla Rose, Melissa Nicholson and her husband, Josh, Nicholas Rose, Genesis Rose and wife, Maycie, and Abigail Rose, Dillon, Bethany, and Kaylee Reiser, Devin and Jillian Surface, Shania, Brian and J.T. Farney; one great granddaughter Tilly Rose; brother, Terry Brown of Hardtner, Kan.; several cousins, nieces, nephews, brothers-in-law, and sisters-in-law.
Funeral servies will be at 10 a.m. today at First United Methodist Church with the Rev. Sandy Kennedy officiation. Burial will be at the Alva Municial Cemetery. Contributions may be made in her memory to Elder Care of Great Bend, KS in care of Wharton Funeral Chapel.
Funeral arrangements provided by
Wharton Funeral Chapel
1302 Oklahoma Blvd.
Alva, OK 73717
Great Bend (Kan.) Tribune, April 18, 2018
