Sandra Mae Tunison

July 31, 1943 - November 15, 2024

Houston, Texas - Sandra "Sandy" Mae Tunison (née Ainsworth, formerly Buss) passed away peacefully, at home, on November 15, 2024, in Houston, Texas, surrounded by her family. She was 81 years old and left behind a legacy of enduring creativity, loving spirit, and unyielding resilience.

Born on July 31, 1943, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Sandy was the beloved daughter of Lowell Albert Garvin and Dora Mae Hocking. Throughout her life, Sandy exemplified the spirit of a determined survivor and a warm, caring soul.

Sandy was married to Benjamin William Buss, who tragically passed away in 1968. She later found enduring love with Richard "Rik" Lynne Tunison, whom she married on August 23, 1969. They shared 32 wonderful years together until his sudden passing in 2001. Sandy found immense pride and fulfillment in her family, especially her son John Garvin Tunison, her daughter-in-law Mayté Yolanda Mitre-Tunison, and her granddaughters Sophia Isabelle, Eva Grace, and Chloe Juliet, who affectionately called her "Grandma Sandy."

Sandy's early years were filled with a love for ice skating, bowling, tennis, and golf. Her first career was as a Licensed Vocational Nurse where she showcased her dedication to caring for others. She was then a homemaker and attended Evergreen State College, where she earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts, nurturing her passion for the arts. In her spare time, she expressed herself through mixed media, painting, sculpture, and block printing. She loved traveling in their RV, The Dawn Treader, with Rik and she cherished the companionship of her furry friends throughout her life, especially her Scotty Dog Troon. She developed many close, life-long friends in Wisconsin, Olympia and Houston and deeply cherished those relationships. In later years, Sandy found joy in artistic crafts, reading, and spending time with her beloved granddaughters.

Throughout her life, Sandy maintained a strong connection to her faith, nurturing a deeply personal and private relationship with God. She found joy in community involvement, volunteering with health care and arts organizations, and embracing life's adventures. Her travels with her son's family to the United Kingdom, Italy, Panama, Honduras, California, and Florida were among her most treasured memories. Her grandchildren fondly remember playing Clue, Phase 10 and other games, painting and drawing flowers, people, and other scenes, telling silly jokes and sharing special moments with her, while her daughter in law remembers her admirable compassion and generosity toward others and warmth and love towards her. Her son recalls their heartfelt conversations, her sage advice, and their spirited political debates.

Sandy was a fighter, enduring and overcoming countless health challenges with remarkable courage and grace. Despite these, she always kept her warm smile, unwavering love for her family and friends, and her dry yet lively sense of humor. In her final weeks, Sandy often spoke of being ready to reunite with her late husband Rik and, as a sign of her compassion, took care to ensure her loved ones were at also at peace. And in her last days she even found ways to bring smiles to those around her with a few well-timed jokes.

She is survived by her son John, daughter-in-law Mayté, granddaughters Sophia, Eva, and Chloe, along with her cousins Richard and Anne Hocking, Sarah Richardson, and Dawn Hocking; and her siblings-in-law Gary and Pamela Ashby and Vernon and Barbara Hawks; and numerous nieces, nephews, and their families. She is preceded in death by her parents, her first husband Benjamin, her second husband Richard, nephew Colby Hawks, niece Jayne Ashby and many other beloved relatives.

A casual gathering to honor Sandy's life is being held today in Houston, Texas. Her funeral service and interment will take place in January 18, 2025, at 2 p.m. at the Forest Funeral Home & Cemetery in Olympia, WA, with a reception to follow. Please RSVP for her funeral and reception to [email protected] or +1 (832) 247-7425.

In honor of her generous spirit, Sandy requested that memorial donations be made to a charity of the donor's choice, one that holds personal meaning.

Sandy's legacy of love, resilience, and creativity lives on in all who knew her. She will be deeply missed and forever cherished in our hearts.

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by The Olympian from Jan. 3 to Jan. 5, 2025.