Sandy M. (Rutledge) Lake

Sandy M. Lake, age 91, a life-time resident of North Branch passed away on August 28, 2021 at her home.  Sandy was born on October 28, 1929 in North Branch to Sandy and Florence (Tietz) Rutledge.  She grew up in North Branch and graduated from the University of Michigan – Flint with a BA in elementary education.  She taught in the Lakeville School District for 20 years before retiring.  She married Clare E. Lake in 1949 and had 4 children, Kathy (David) Coleman, Clare R. (Shin) Lake, Glenn (Terri) Lake, and David (Amy) Lake.  She also was host mother to many international students including Josue (Louise) Njock Libii, Rogelio Garcia Garibay, Mimi (Francisco) Garcia Garibay de Conti, Sergio Montemayor Sanchez, siblings Vicente and Isabel Arregui Garcia-Roves.

Sandy loved her students and teaching.  She was a life-time member of the First Methodist United Church. After retiring, she enjoyed time with her grandchildren, traveling with her son, Clare and other friends and family.  Sandy also enjoyed bird watching. 

Sandy was preceded in death by her parents, in-laws, her husband, and her siblings, Kathleen Kelch, Robert Rutledge, Jack Rutledge, and Dawne Stoneburgh, nephews, Todd Stoneburgh and Lloyd Allen Lake, great-niece Alexis Stoneburgh.  She is survived by her children, her grandchildren, Victoria Bates, Stephanie Lake Brooks, Nicholas Lake, Shawna Lake, A.J. Thrun, great grandchildren, Colton and Garrett Kitts, Thomas and Braden Vallee, Layla Brooks and great, great grandchildren, Annie and Ryker Kitts, many nieces and nephews. 

There will be no formal visitation or funeral and her family will hold a celebration of her life and internment of her ashes at a later date. 

The family wishes to extend a special thank you to her granddaughter, Victoria Bates and her niece, Faye Markowitz, her caretaker coordinator, Jill Heron, and her caretakers, Deborah Diller, Mary Smith, and Brenda Simpson, and her neighbor, Dana Thomason for their help during the past two years.  Thank-you to Heartland Hospice. 

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be directed to the First United Methodist Church, The Heartland Hospice Memorial Fund, the Audubon Society, or the National Wildlife Federation.  

 You may share an online condolence to the family at www.blackburnchapel.com

Arrangements by Blackburn Chapel-Martin Funeral Home

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