Sandra Blackburn

On Saturday, Oct. 2, 2010, Sandra Blackburn, 64, passed away unexpectedly in Chelsea, Mich. Born Sandra Mary Melichar in 1945 in Crete, Neb., she was but 16 years old and a high school student when she first met 21-year old Robert Blackburn. She earned her diploma from Neligh High School in May of 1963. Seven months later, on Dec. 14, 1963, before a modest gathering of 20 guests at the Methodist Church in Neligh, Sandra Melichar became Mrs. Sandra Blackburn. The newlyweds'' first home was a rented basement apartment. Sandy gave birth to their son, Rob in 1965 - daughter, Paige arrived in 1967. Bob was busy getting a college degree and worked with long absences from home. Sandy took to the daunting task of childrearing single-handedly. In 1978, Sandra Blackburn graduated with honors from the University of Nebraska Nursing School as a Registered Nurse. Bob''s career forced relocation a total of 15 times during their marriage, with the family hop scotching through nine cities and four states. They arrived in Orange County, Calif., in 1980. After a 10-year career in nursing, Sandra''s final position was that as Head Nurse at a geriatric health care facility in Laguna Nigel, Calif. The family moved to Cambria in 1990 to open a second facility of Bob''s family''s business, Blackburn Manufacturing. Sandy left nursing to become an integral part of the business for the next five years. In December 1999, she was diagnosed with inoperable lymphoma of the liver and was given months to live. She was referred to an oncologist in San Luis Obispo and promptly began an intensive regimen of chemotherapy. She attributed her subsequent complete and seemingly miraculous recovery to her personal lifesaver, physician, Dr. Daniel R. Lewis. In 2003, Bob and Sandy moved for the fifteenth and final time. They built their dream home in the coastal mountains west of Templeton, from where they hosted memorable holiday dinners for friends and family. Sandy was known as a superb cook with a creative bent for improvising any and all recipes. She also was an accomplished quilter and produced many heirloom pieces over the years. Her great gift to her close friends was her unstinting compassion for others and a self-deprecating sense of humor that endeared her to everyone she met. She was a voracious reader and an astute and tireless literary advocate. Sandra Blackburn is survived by her husband of 46 years, Robert Blackburn; son, Rob Blackburn of Paso Robles; daughter, Paige Nasland of Atascadero; mother, Mrs. Elnora Person of Wahoo, Neb.; sister, Cindy Rodgers of Colon, Neb.; brother, Bill Salisbury of Yuma, Ariz.; and grandchildren Evan, Ethan, Zachary and Jessie Blackburn of Paso Robles. The Blackburn''s invite all of Sandy''s dear friends to join together in a celebration of her life at a memorial to be held at 1 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 7, 2010, at their home in Templeton. Information: (805) 434-5667. Let Me Go When I come to the end of the road And the sun has set for me I want no rites in a gloom filled room Why cry for a soul set free? Miss me a little but not for long And not with your head bowed low Remember the love that once we shared Miss me, but let me go...