Sandra Jo Young

Sandra Jo "Sandy" Young, 90, of Rantoul, Illinois, passed away peacefully on January 6, 2025, at Carle Hospital, surrounded by her loving family.

Born on August 29, 1934, in Columbus, Indiana, Sandy later made Rantoul her home after graduating from Paxton High School in 1953. She bartended locally, forming lasting friendships and becoming a cherished part of the community. A devoted sports fan, she never missed a chance to cheer on the Chicago Cubs, Bears, or Fighting Illini. She was a fixture at Camp Rantoul, where players and coaches admired her dedication, including Cincinnati Bengals' Teddy Karras, who once said, "Seeing her every year is one of the highlights of camp."

Above all, Sandy’s greatest joy was her family. A devoted mother and grandmother, she rarely missed her grandchildren’s events, earning beloved nicknames like "G, Grans, Meemaw, and DoDo."

Sandy is survived by her four children: Pamela (Robert) Karr, Jodi (Tim) Mayer, Michael (Kathy) Davis, and Kari Qualters; 10 grandchildren, 9 great-grandchildren, 1 great-great-grandchild, and numerous nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her mother, Vivian Wells Snoddy; stepfather, Dube Snoddy; and sister, Martha Luttrell.

A visitation will be held at Lux Memorial Chapel on Saturday, March 15, from 10 a.m. to noon, followed by a celebration of life and burial at Glenn Cemetery in Paxton. A luncheon at the Knights of Columbus in Rantoul will follow.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Mills Breast Cancer Institute or the Henry J. Smith Trust Fund in her honor.

Sandy will be deeply missed and forever remembered. RIP, Lightnin’!