Sandra Elizabeth Erwin

1944 - 2024

Sandra Elizabeth Erwin was born May 23, 1944, to Mary Elizabeth McTyier and Sidney Henson Erwin in Cleveland, Ohio. She passed away on July 22, 2024, in Provo, Utah, after enduring years with dementia and Alzheimer's disease. She is with many loved ones now. She spent her childhood and youth in Ferguson, Missouri, in an idyllic setting of a quiet neighborhood with a beautiful park across the street from her home. She graduated from Ferguson High School and studied art at Memphis State University, now Memphis University. She married Bill Bagley in 1966 and they later divorced. She married her soul mate and devoted husband Stephan LaVerne Hamilton in 1972 in Memphis, Tennessee. Sandy was a caring, generous woman who worked for many years as a unit secretary at Methodist Hospital where she was highly regarded and known for her ability to get things done. Her drawing expertise was used to produce pictures that accompanied a pamphlet on the care and treatment of Diabetes. Also gifted in watercolor and oil painting, calligraphy, sewing and cooking, she enjoyed going to craft shows at the Pink Palace and other places in and around Memphis. Many of her creative blankets, pillows, pear preserves, and numerous other items were sold in such places. She loved gemstone jewelry, especially moon stones. Sandy didn't just present her creations at craft shows, but she made many blankets, baby toys and pillows for her friends. Sandy loved, loved, loved tie dyed clothes and fried shrimp. She had a wardrobe of close to ten tie dyed T-shirts. Since living in Provo, she has had the privilege of visiting nearly every local restaurant that offers shrimp on the menu. Some she liked, some she didn't. She was actually a very picky eater.

Sandy and Steve lived a wonderful life in Memphis but were never blessed with children. Steve loved motorcycles and had several dirt bikes and motorcycles. He joked that one was made from parts from a Yamaha and a Bull Taco and said it was a Yamataco. Steve and Sandy would go on many motorcycle gatherings. A member of the BMW RAMS (Riders of the Mid-South) and later the Memphis Motorcycle Club, Steve attended many campouts and rallies, one of these was in Toad Suck, Arkansas, and was a yearly event. Sandy would help with designing T-shirts, plaques, and mugs for the rallies. She created the logo for the Memphis Motorcycle Club of a circle with an eagle inside holding a motorcycle wheel.

Sandy and Steve had many great, longtime friends in Memphis, usually either associated with crafts or motorcycles. Steve liked to kayak but he began losing his sight to macular degeneration. He explained that some of his biker friends would take him out biking or kayaking and they would sort of surround him so he would be protected but still able to enjoy the outing. As Sandy and Steve became less able to take care of their needs, these Christ-like friends would collect and deliver their groceries, medical prescriptions and whatever else they needed.

Sandy was preceded in death by her parents and beloved husband, Stephan. She is survived by her sister Karen (Kay) Gingras, Provo; nephews Brian Gingras (Janine), Jared Gingras (Shari), and Cody Gingras (Havila); nieces Misha Baca (Paul) and Leah Swenson (Mark). She is also survived by great nieces Kara, Kelci, Kimber, Kiersten, Karli, Zoe, Samantha, Dakota Jo, Hayley, Aisha, Sage, Sydney, Jordyn, and Kylee; great nephews Cory, Zach, Tyler, Shae, Tre, Cole, Dylan, Kaden, Keegan, Jake, Jayden, and Jaxon; a cousin Douglas McTyier (Janice), Memphis, cousin Chuck Huffman (Ann), Plano, TX, and numerous other cousins. Sandy is also survived by and was close to Steve's cousin Susan Thorne Nowstrup (Dennis) Austin, TX.

Mrs. Hamilton's visitation will be Sunday, August 4th, 2024 from 3:00 p.m. until 5:00 p.m. at Memorial Park Funeral Home and Cemetery. The graveside service will be at 3:00 p.m., Monday, August 5, 2024 at Memorial Park Cemetery, 5668 Poplar Ave., Memphis TN.