Former long-time Brandon Township Trustee Sandy Willett was remembered this week as a woman who was very involved in the community and fun to be around.
Willett died March 21. She was 65.
Elected to the Brandon Township Board in 1988, Willett served as a trustee for 20 consecutive years, until 2008.
‘She was very active in her beginning years, and served on a lot of committees,? recalled Karen McArthur, township deputy clerk. ‘If you needed help, she would be there. She was very community-minded and participated in many events, offering support and doing what she could.?
Willett was very instrumental in the rebuilding of the Lake Louise dam, forming the committee on the dam and getting the information to resolve the problems, said McArthur, who also enjoyed being a member of the Eastern Stars with Willett.
‘She was good at dancing and group skits,? she said. ‘Later, when she was in wheelchair, she tried to show us how to dance. She was a really fun person, playing jokes on people and always doing something funny.?
Nancy Peters served with Willett on the township board in the early 90s and recalled that Willett was very intelligent and public service just seemed to come naturally to her.
‘She took in everything that was going on and was interested in and wanted to be a part of everything,? said Peters. ‘She had a good sense of humor. Sandy loved crafts, and fun, and she loved nursing before she got hurt. I loved her and her sense of humor. I’ll miss her awful.?
Besides serving on the Brandon Township Board for 20 years, Willett was also a member of the Brandon Library Board, the Ortonville Order of the Eastern Star, the Ortonville Women’s Club, the VFW Auxiliary, and the Red Hat Society.
Beloved wife of Gary; dear mother of Beth (Bryan) Wiggins of Summerville, S.C., Mark (Sherry) Willett of Greer, S.C., and the late Michael Willett; sister of Barbara Simpson, Thomas Bandy, and James Walters; grandmother of Courtney, Adrianna, Jessie, Austin, Nathan, Paige, and Avery.
A funeral service was held March 25 at Coats Village Funeral Home, Ortonville. Pastor Timothy Dibble officiated. Interment in Christian Memorial Cemetery.