Sandra Kay (Watts) McAuliffe

Sandra Kay (Watts) McAuliffe

Sandra K. McAuliffe, age 85, of Marshall was called home and into her Lord’s hands Saturday morning, December 16, 2023, at Ascension Borgess Hospital in Kalamazoo after being stricken at her home Sunday, December 10, 2023.

Sandy was born on October 22, 1938, in Albion to William and Irene (Lighthill) Watts.  She grew up in the Albion area and was a graduate of Albion Washington Gardner High School, class of 1957.  While attending high school, she had been employed by the old Brownridge Rexall Drug Store from 1952 until 1957.   Sandy then began a long and successful career at the State Farm Regional Offices in Marshall.  She retired in 2001 following 44 years of service.

 In retirement, Sandy worked as a salesclerk at Eve’s Hallmark Store from 2001 to 2005.  In 2003, Sandy began working for the Craig K. Kempf Funeral Home.  Sandy brought with her many years of valuable customer service and experience working with the public.  She had many friends and working relationships in the community that made her an essential part of its staff.  Even after Sandy’s retirement from the funeral home, she continued to contribute and assist with the funeral home’s monthly grief meetings.

On September 27, 1958, she married Robert Arthur McAuliffe at the St. John Catholic Church in Albion.  The couple recently celebrated their sixty fifth wedding anniversary.

Sandy had always been a very active and sociable person.  She was a member of the St. Mary Catholic Church.   Sandy participated in the State Farm Golf Leagues and their annual shopping trips to Chicago and retirees’ luncheons.  She bowled in the Marshall Major League and the Marshall Moose League. She enjoyed doing counted cross stitch and was an avid reader.  And volunteered with the Oaklawn Hospital Auxiliary. 

She is survived by her husband, Robert “Bob” McAuliffe; special nieces and nephews, Mark, Tony, Angie, Tim, Chip, Jenny, Jeff, Eric, Leslie, Todd and Ryan and numerous great nieces and nephews; her loving dog, Molly: and a sister-in-law, Sue Pryor.  She was preceded in death by a sister, Jeri Lou Pryor and a brother, Kenneth John Pryor.

The family will receive friends on Friday, December 22nd from 10 am until the time of service at 12 noon at the Kempf Family Funeral and Cremation Services, 723 Old Hwy 27 North, Marshall, MI.   Interment will follow in Oakridge Cemetery.

Friends who wish may make memorial contributions to the Southwest Michigan Humane Society.