Sandra Lynn Moore, 74, of Mt. Pleasant, Iowa, passed away on Thursday, June 18.
Sandy was born on April 11, 1952, in Albert Lea, Minnesota, to Clifford and Dorothy Sabin. She was raised on the family farm near Bricelyn, Minnesota, and graduated from high school in 1970.
She attended Luther College in Decorah, Iowa, where she studied English and Education and met the love of her life, Lennis Moore. The two were married in 1972. After Sandy earned her bachelor’s degree from Luther College in 1974, they moved to Cherokee, Iowa, where they lived for four years before settling in Mt. Pleasant in 1978.
Sandy began a long and fulfilling career teaching English at Mt. Pleasant Middle School and Junior High, where she inspired generations of students over the course of 30 years. She was a beloved educator whose humor, passion for literature, and genuine care for her students defined her teaching. Her dedication to education was recognized in 2003 when she was named the Wal-Mart Iowa Teacher of the Year. She retired in 2008.
Committed to lifelong learning, Sandy earned her Master’s degree in Education from the University of Iowa while teaching full-time. She was also an enthusiastic participant in the Iowa Writers’ Project, where she found friendship, inspiration, and a vibrant community of fellow educators and writers. A gifted writer herself, she regularly submitted her poetry for publication and remained devoted to the written word throughout her life.
Sandy was an avid reader who spent countless hours with a book in hand, delighting in discovering new authors and eagerly sharing her favorite reads with friends and family. On sunny summer afternoons, she could often be found on the front deck with an iced tea and a good book, savoring the simple pleasures she loved most.
Sandy and Lennis cherished gathering with loved ones and created a home filled with warmth, laughter, and hospitality. Around their kitchen table, family and friends shared stories, meals, celebrations, and countless memories. Their door was always open, welcoming a wide circle of loved ones, including children, grandchildren, neighbors, lifelong friends, and new acquaintances alike.
A member of First Presbyterian Church, Sandy always encouraged her children to sing as loudly as they could from the pews. Her love of music filled her home and touched those around her. She delighted in playing piano duets with her son, Lucas, and never missed an opportunity to entertain family and friends with beloved songs from Andrew Lloyd Webber musicals.
Sandy’s memory will be cherished by her children: Lucas Moore and his wife, Erin, of Norman, Oklahoma, and their daughters, Amber and Linden; Benjamin Moore and his wife, Sarah Frydenlund, of Decorah, Iowa, and their daughters, Alvina and Iona; and Catie Scott and her husband, Bob, of Washington, D.C., and their sons, Anderson, Sam, and Ezra. She is also survived by her brothers, Steve Sabin and his wife, Kathy, and Bill Sabin; her sister, Gretchen Sabin Hansen, and her partner, Mark; and many beloved cousins, nieces, nephews, and extended family members.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Lennis Moore; her parents, Clifford and Dorothy Sabin; and her brother, Jim Sabin.
A celebration of Sandy’s life will be held on Wednesday, July 22, from 2:00 to 6:00 p.m. at the Union Block in Mt. Pleasant, Iowa.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Mt. Pleasant Community School Foundation in honor of Sandy’s lifelong commitment to education. In lieu of flowers, guests attending the celebration of life are invited to bring school supplies and/or backpacks, which will be donated in Sandy’s memory.