Sandy Varady

Sandy Varady, age 71, of Grants Pass, Oregon died Saturday, June 26, 2010 at her home.

Visitation will be July 22 1-5PM and July 23 9AM-1:30 PM at Hull and Hull Funeral Directors.

A graveside service will be held for family and friends July 23, 3PM, at Hillcrest Memorial Park.
A celebration of life BBQ will be July 24, 3-8PM, at her home. Please RSVP if you are interested in attending either 541-479-6310.

In lieu of flowers, please contact her family at the previous number to arrange for plants to help prepare her home for a beautiful BBQ.

Sandy was born April 25, 1939 in Estherville Iowa to Mae and Edward Elwood. She was raised the only child of a farming family and enjoyed the country life where she could ride her horse Dusty and be around a variety of animals. Often ill as a child, she was an avid reader and loved crafts.

Following finishing school, she married and moved to Colorado living in Denver and Estes Park. They eventually moved to Los Angeles where she was a secretary for Hughes Aircraft. There, she and her husband raised two boys, Nick and Jim.

In 1971 they moved to Grants Pass Oregon where she was a personnel secretary for Grants Pass School District 7. She then followed Superintendent John Mayfield to the county school district where she was his administrative secretary until he retired. She continued on in this position for other county superintendents until the mid 90’s when she too retired. All toll, she worked for Grants Pass school districts for over 25 years.

She was known to take young women, particularly teachers or aides, under her wing and offer them a place to stay and guidance in their new career as teachers. Over the years, dozens of young women benefited from her generosity and thought of her as a parent. Her last mentoring project was her daughter-in-law, Larisa, and her grandson Tyoma who came to live with her and her son from Russia. Sandy enjoyed a variety of activities over the years including dancing, rafting, camping, traveling, gardening, bingo, and reading Stephen King novels.

She is preceded in death by her parents who she will rest beside at Hillcrest Memorial Park.

She is survived by her sons Nick Varady of Coos Bay, Oregon and Jim Eagle, as well as her daughter-in-law Larisa Eagle, and her grandson Tyoma Eagle, all of Grants Pass, Oregon.