Phyllis E. Sands

DECATUR - Phyllis E. Sands, 70, of Westfield, Indiana, formerly of Decatur passed away, Saturday, April 9, 2005 in Carmel, Indiana. Memorial services will be 11:00 a.m. Friday, April 15, 2005 at First Presbyterian Church, downtown Decatur. Visitation will be Thursday 4-8 p.m. at Dawson & Wikoff West Wood Street Funeral Home, 515 W. Wood St., Decatur, Illinois. Burial will be private. Memorials may be made to the Community Foundation of Decatur/ Macon County. Phyllis was born November 4, 1934 in Dry Point Township, Holliday, Illinois to Riley S. and Alta, L. Lorton Allsop. She moved to Decatur as a small child and remained there until January 2004 when she relocated to Westfield, Indiana, just north of the Indianapolis area. Phyllis married Stanley Grotjan on June 6, 1953 and produced four children. She married William B. Sands, former Director of Public Works for the City of Decatur on October 6, 1978. Bill preceded her in death on October 2, 1996. Phyllis began her long career at the City of Decatur on May 23, 1960 working for the Police Department and on June 1, 1965 she became the City Clerk for Decatur. . She was the City Clerk for the City of Decatur for thirty one years and retired on May 31, 1996. Phyllis served as Secretary for the Decatur Public Building Commission from October 1997 until October 2001. She served on the City Planning Commission from August 2001 until July 2003. She was a charter member of the Central Illinois Municipal Clerks Organization and served as the Regional Director for the Municipal Clerks of Illinois. After three years of retirement Phyllis was coached out of retirement to run for a seat on the Decatur City Council. She served as a councilwoman from May 1, 1999 until April 30, 2001. Her fondest memories were of her years working for the City of Decatur. She loved city government and continued to keep informed on everything that happened in the City even after relocating to Indiana. She had many friends and colleagues throughout her years working for this city and she will be dearly missed. Surviving Phyllis are her four children, Lori Hively (husband Gary) of Carmel, Indiana, Karen Hawkins (John) of Decatur, Phil Grotjan (Brenda) of Farmersville, Texas, and Kirt Grotjan of Westfield, Indiana. Step children Steve Sands (wife Jan) of Sacramento, California, Peggy Rector (husband Andy) Bloomington, Kent Sands (wife Suzie) Elmhurst, David Sands (wife Mary) Mt. Zion, Mike Sands, (wife Erin) of Decatur. Grandchildren Adrienne and Caitlin Scherer, of Carmel, Indiana, Jordan, Brynn, and Dyllan Hawkins of Decatur, Andy and Kacy Grotjan of Farmersville, Texas, Tyler and Natalie Grotjan of Glendale, Arizona, Katie and Maggie Sands of Elmhurst, Mac and Ben Rector of Bloomington, William Sands of Decatur, Emily and Sara Sands of Sacramento, California. Great grandsons Ethan William Hanson of Decatur, Brother Garry Allsop (Barb) of Decatur, sister Beverly Allsop of Centralia, and many nieces and nephews. Her parents, husband William and sister Shirley Craig preceded her in death. Obituary written by family members. Online guest book at www.legacy.com/herald-review/LegacyHome.asp
This obituary was originally published in the Decatur Herald & Review.