Sandra Jeanne Twait

Sandra Jeanne Twait, born October 27, 1937, passed away peacefully on January 9, 2024 following a brief illness. She is survived by her husband Frank Twait, her three children Greg, Jeff (Elizabeth) and Karen (Ashley), her grandchildren Taylor (Rob), Stephen, Will and Drew Twait and her great-grandchildren Lincoln and Robey Mitchell. She is predeceased by her parents and her three sisters.

Jeanne, born and raised in Enid, Oklahoma, had an early sense of adventure that included picking up hitchhikers. Fortunately, one was a young Air Force Officer, Frank Twait. He promised exotic travels around the world and she married him in 1957. He kept his promise - whisking her away to Guam for two years- but also taking great trips to see and learn new things from Asia to Europe to the Caribbean.

As a military family, the Twaits moved often and Jeanne had a knack for making any place a true home - one that Frank couldn't wait to get back to after his deployments. Some of it was due to her great cooking, homemaking, artistic curiosity, love of entertaining and making new friends. She could sew any outfit, costume or decoration. She appreciated fine food and famously claimed complicated, multi-hour recipes were "super easy". When her kids were fascinated by an enormous banana cream pie, she spent months figuring out exactly how to make it. When her kids or grandkids wanted a special birthday cake, Jeanne made something fun and beautiful.

Jeanne was always in charge of something. Early on it was Frank's checkbook, then later in life it was the Wine Club and Beer Club at Regency Oaks. And let's not forget bridge. A Life Master, bridge was her passion - she studied it with the best in the world, competed (and won) around the country and taught and inspired many others. While none of her children and grandchildren inherited her love for bridge, they all share her love of games, especially the great Pearce family card game, Me Me, other board games, and most recently Mahjong.

Throughout her life, Jeanne faced her share of challenges, particularly significant health challenges. Her extraordinary toughness and positive attitude were inspiring. Her can-do spirit was tested when Frank went to war for 2 years and she had to parent three young children alone. She would say later it was the hardest time of her life, but only because she feared for Frank. She rarely complained, did the work to improve any situation and chose to be happy. Her positive spirit will be sorely missed, but will live on in those privileged to know her well.

For those who wish to make a donation in Jeanne's memory, please consider the Florida Veterans Foundation, 2601 S Blair Stone Road, C300, Tallahassee, FL 32399 (www.helpflvets.org).