Passed Away On: March 27, 2022
Sandy was born September 21, 1938, in Maywood California to Orson and Lucinda (Foreman) Curtis. She grew up with her parents and older brother Vern in Maywood and Cudahy California, in homes that her father Orson built. Sandy was an active member of the Maywood/Bell Ward of The Church of Jesus Christ of Later-day Saints and graduated from Bell High School in 1956. Sandy attended Brigham Young University in Utah then returned to Maywood ca in 1958.
Sandy married her first husband Michael Hillhouse in 1959 and had her son Thomas Vern, unfortunately this marriage ended soon after Tom was born; almost two years later Sandra married Billy Ray Dearmore and after he formally adopted Tom, Sandra, Bill and Tom were sealed together for eternity in the Los Angeles Temple.
Sandy worked several years at Betty Brooks as a phone operator and in 1962 Sandy and Bill welcomed their first daughter Lucinda Ann, who sadly passed away at the age of 23 months from infant pneumonia (which we call RSV today) in May 1964, three weeks later and six weeks premature their second daughter Jill Annette was born July 12, 1964.
Sandy and her family lived next door to her parents in Maywood when small family farms were a common place in the city and where it was not uncommon to have bottle lambs in the laundry room keeping warm and feeding them a bottle every few hours. Sandy and Bill owned a service station, back in the day when you pulled up and said “filer up “.
On March 4, 1970, Sandy and Bill welcomed their third daughter Elizabeth Ann. Shortly after Elizabeth arrived Sandy and Bill sold their gas station and moved to San Jose. In 1970 when there was no car seat regulation Elizabeth, only 2 months old, slept on the floor of the car from Los Angeles to San Jose. Once settled in San Jose, Sandy became a HHA and worked for VNA of Santa Clara, Sandy loved helping others in their home and held the title “ Best Bed bath giver” for many years. On May 8, 1978, Sandy and Bill welcomed their forth daughter Laura Denise.
Sandy and Bill were active band boosters for Silver Creek High School Band and very active with church in the 18th ward. Sandy pursued her desire to advance her profession and in August 1990 Sandy completed her LVN degree and passed her state boards at the young age of 52. Sandy retired from VNA after 18 years and started working as an LVN until her retirement in 2009.
Sandy hung up her nursing hat (yes she wore a white nurse cap) and put on a chauffeur cap taking her grandchildren to school and back.
For many years Sandy enjoyed helping her dearest friend Becky Parker with her Pampered Chief parties often talking on the phone with Becky, if she had a party late at night to make sure Becky made it home safe, Sandy was Becky’s Sous chef on Sundays after church making the salad for dinner.
After moving to Hollister with her daughter Jill and her family Sandy became a member of the Hollister 1st ward and attended church weekly and even on Zoom once the pandemic hit. Sandy also attended Live Oak Adult Day center in Gilroy until the pandemic and then attended daily zoom classes where she was the class greeter and most days would take over the class showing off things she did or pictures from her past. Friday was Bingo Day and her game, she won almost weekly.
Sandy is survived by her children, Thomas Vern Dearmore and wife Michelle, Daughters Jill Annette Bright and husband Edward , Daughter Elizabeth Ann Curiel, daughter Laura Denise Sanchez and husband Joaquin, nine grandchildren, nine great grandchildren and one great grandchild along with many nieces and nephews from the Curtis family.
Sandy was predeceased in life by her Husband of 33 years (5/1994) Billy Ray Dearmore, her infant daughter Lucinda (Cindy) Dearmore, her parents Orson and Lucinda Curtis, and her dear Brother Vern.
In Lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Central Coast VNA Hospice.
We wish to thank our family, friends, Hollister 1st Ward and VNA hospice for providing support and comfort to our mother and family ,during this difficult transition, and to Black -Cooper Sander Funeral Home for receiving our Mother and providing excellent care.