
After a long, courageous battle with colon cancer, Merle Sandy, 62, went to be with his Lord Jesus Christ on June 16, 2007, surrounded by family and friends. Born in Arkansas City, Kansas, May 30, 1945, to Hobert Allan (H.A.) and Rebecca Louise Sandy, his family moved to Avenal, California when he was two years old. Merle attended school in Avenal, Hayfork, Fall River Mills, Redding, Needles and Red Bluff, CA, where he met and married Carol Hinkle in 1962.
Following in his father’s footsteps as a pipefitter/welder, he worked in refineries, oilfields and on pipelines from Libya, North Africa to California and Alaska. He lived in Alaska from 1972 to 1987 and was well known for his skill as a welder on the 800 mile Trans Alaska Pipeline.
An avid outdoorsman, Merle enjoyed hunting throughout Alaska and California. Merle was a long time member of Northern California Pipe Trades Local 342 out of Concord. He and his family returned to California in 1987and moved back to their home in Benicia. Merle took early retirement in 1997 because of an old neck injury.
In 2002, after several years as a bachelor, he went back to Delta Junction, Alaska. He renewed an acquaintance there with Susan Kemp and they were married September 20, 2003. Merle and Susan moved back to Benicia for his medical care in 2004. They attended Calvary Community Church.
His family said “He was an extraordinary family man who will be dearly missed as a loving and giving father and friend”. He is survived by his beloved wife, Susan, sons Ronald Sandy of Benicia, Richard Sandy and wife Julie of Concord, stepson Todd Blum and wife Tracy of Roseville, sister Elaine Sandy of Vacaville, grandchildren Crystal, Shelby, Cody, and Tanner Sandy, Taylor and Joshua Sandy, Trinity and Ty Blum, nephews, a niece, cousins and many friends he made easily throughout his life. He was preceded in death by his father, mother and older sister, Jeannie.
The family invites you to attend a special celebration of Merle’s life at Calvary Community Church, 1315 West Military Street, Benicia, CA, 11:00 AM on Saturday, June 23, 2007.
In memory of Merle, donations may be made to the Sutter Solano Charitable Foundation-Cancer Center, 300 Hospital Drive, Vallejo, CA 94589 or Calvary Community Church Youth Ministry at the address above.