Saundra "Sandy" K (Griffin) Johnston

Saundra K “Sandy” Johnston, 81, of Flushing, Michigan, passed away peacefully Saturday, Oct. 30, 2021. Easy conversation was Sandy’s superpower. Everyone from her closest family to her nursing caretakers to restaurant waitstaff to store clerks will remember that she loved to talk with them personally. Sandy was gracious through years of poor health, and among her final words were thank-yous to her caregivers. Her family joins her in gratitude for the caring staff at Majestic Care Flushing (formerly Heartland Fostrian) and Heartland Hospice.

 

Sandy was born April 30, 1940, in Flint to Geraldine (Koontz) and Verne Griffin. She graduated from Flint Central High School in 1958 and attended nursing college in Lansing briefly before marrying and later starting a family.

 

While she worked part-time office jobs, Sandy truly hit her stride as a homemaker. Her children recall with amazement a childhood where the fridge was always full, the shag carpet always raked, the furniture always polished, the beds always made and the closets always wall-to-wall with clean clothes. As her children grew, Sandy began a full-time career in the Hurley Medical Center diet office, where her personal attention no doubt touched thousands of patients over the years as she helped them with meal selections.

 

Her grandchildren remember outings to the Flint Children’s Museum and mini-golf with ice cream afterward, as well as mac and cheese dinners and lots of Grandma’s snacks just for them. In fact, Grandma always had something to give, whether it was a pretty item of jewelry or a simple piece of candy.

 

Family and faith sustained Sandy throughout life. For many years, she was a member of the former First Baptist Church of Flushing.

 

Sandy is remembered with love by her children, Jeff (Grace) Johnston and Janell Beil, nine grandchildren, special family members Jim and Peggie Johnston and Connie O’Brien, and many dear friends and extended family. In death she is reunited with her parents and her siblings, Dianne Myatt and Robert Griffin.

 

A memorial celebration of Sandy’s life will take place at noon, Saturday, Dec. 4, 2021, at Resurrection Reformed Church, 5225 Calkins Road in Flint Township, MI 48532, the Revs. Doug and Kristi Keil officiating. Family will receive guests beginning at 10 a.m. For everyone’s safety, masks and social distancing are required in the church sanctuary. Those wishing to make memorial gifts are encouraged to donate to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital or Carriage Town Ministries, Flint.