Sandra Sword Peeples

Sandra “Sandy” Kaye Sword Peeples was born on December 4, 1947 and went to be with the Lord on March 1, 2021. She was preceded in death by her parents Verline D. Bawcom and Gordon Stanley Sword(s).

Sandy was born in Jacksonville, Texas and grew up in Rusk. As a young adult, she moved to Jacksonville where she married Tony Harrison and they raised their family. She worked at a local bank and later worked at Lon Morris College. Sandy attended college at the University of Texas at Tyler where she got her Bachelor's degree in Education. She worked as a teacher for the Jacksonville ISD for 16 years. Later, she married Joe Peeples and moved to Carrollton, Texas, where she continued teaching 1st grade. She retired from Frisco ISD in 2005. During her years of teaching, she made many friends.

Sandy loved being involved with her children’s activities while they were growing up and later attending her grandchildren’s activities. Even after being diagnosed with ovarian cancer and going through the chemo treatments, she put on a brave face and made every effort to continue going to these activities.

For the last 17 years she and a group of her childhood friends, "The Chicks of 66", have gone on yearly trips to various locations. One of her favorite trip locations was Crystal Beach in Galveston. At home or on one of these trips, she loved playing games such as Mexican Train and was very competitive.

Sandy was originally diagnosed with cancer in June 2015. She received treatments in Dallas and Houston. While in Dallas, she was under the care of Doctor Bruce Fine at Medical City. She could not have had a better or more caring doctor and medical staff. Later she began a trial at Mary Crowley Cancer Research Center where she grew very close to the staff and medical team. She often referred to the staff as kind and caring. The family is very thankful for the care she received from Doctor Fine, his staff and the medical research team at Mary Crowley. The family would also like to thank Kristi Kimbrough and Misty Humphries with the Reliant At Home Hospice Agency for the in-home care they provided Sandy in her last days. Sandy bravely fought the cancer, never complaining for over 5 years. She was an encouragement to other patients and supported them in their fight as well.

She is survived by her husband of 22 years Richard Joe Peeples; son Christopher Shane Harrison, his wife Tonya and their children Maegan and Alexis; daughter Robin Lynn Collins and her children Heather, John, Jessie and her husband Jordan Bishop and their son, her great grandson Branson; stepson Christopher Peeples; stepdaughter Suzanne and her husband John Foster, their children Jacob and Kyle; stepdaughter Jennifer and her husband John Mosley and her son Christian; as well as her sister Joyce and her husband Barry Whisenhunt, their son John, his wife Lori and their son Judd; daughter Sandra, her husband Chris Holden their daughter Madison and a host of good friends and extended family.

Her graveside service will be held on Saturday March 13, 2021, 2 P.M., at the Cedar Hill Cemetery in Rusk. At her request, some of her ashes will be given to her grandchildren, some spread at the Harrison farm and some given to the Chicks to be spread at Crystal Beach. A Memorial Service will be at a later date in Frisco. In lieu of flowers, we ask donations be made to the Mary Crowley Cancer Research Center or the Down Syndrome Guild.