Sondra Sue (Debo) Medley’s entire family learned of her passing on Jan. 3, 2022, despite her actual death occurring nine months to the day prior on April 3, 2021.
Sandi was born the second child of five to Helen Gladys (Katzer) and Vernon Jefferson Debo on May 8, 1944. She graduated from Ruskin High School in 1962 and was in the gifted program due to her high intelligence. Shortly after graduation, she had a short marriage to her first husband, Billy Thomas.
In 1964, they welcomed their daughter, who was later adopted by Sandi’s second husband and changed her name to Michelle Kathleen following their union in December of 1966. Stephen James Marsden and Sandi welcomed their first child, a son named James Vernon (after both grandfathers) on July 13, 1968, but sadly lost their infant son the following day due to complications from a premature birth. Sandi and Steve had two more daughters, Jennifer Sue in November 1969 and Susan Jeannine in August 1974, before divorcing in 1978.
Sandi married Leo Julian Martin Jr.(Mickey), who had two sons, Michael Leo and David Lee, in 1979, and divorced in 1984. Sandi met Roy David Bergman in 1985 and they married in 1990 and divorced in 1999.
Sandi began spending more time with her group of friends who had remained in contact from high school through the years. They dubbed themselves, “Our Gang.” It wasn’t long before a certain gentleman and widower of “Our Gang” began referring to Sandi as, “Darla.” Sandi and Larry Medley were married in July of 2000. Larry was a wonderful husband and friend to Sandi and someone she had planned to grow old with. Unfortunately, cancer had other plans and robbed our family of the absolute best Dad we could have had, had we been able to hand-pick our own, on Sept. 22, 2003. Sandi spent her remaining years a widow.
Sandi was employed as a bank teller for Blue Ridge Bank, Bank Midwest, and Grandview Bank , an executive assistant for Mayflower Contracting Services, a receptionist for Bryan World Travel, a bookkeeper for McGee Oil and a bartender for the Belton VFW 8220 throughout her working career.
Sandi loved being with family and friends. She always enjoyed dancing. She loved to cook for people. She had a green thumb and could grow anything. She and Steve had a 50-foot long greenhouse and grew various types of houseplants they sold for extra money. Sandi taught her girls humility, compassion, respect and kindness. There were many times when she would meet someone down on their luck or even homeless and she would bring them home for fresh clothes, a shower, a place to sleep, help them get their medications and make contact with their family. Sometimes, we’d just have people stay with us for extended periods of time. She taught us that even when you don’t have anything extra to give, you can always share what you have and never look down on someone else unless your giving them your hand to help them up. She also struggled with her mental health and there were times when the struggle was more than she could manage. Of course, that was the elephant in the room and never discussed but always the catalyst for whatever change was on the horizon. So, we learned to adapt.
Sandi was preceeded in death by her sister, Kathleen Ann (1957); her brothers, John Thomas (1998) and Richard Allen (2018); her parents, Helen Gladys (Katzer) Debo (1989) and Vernon Jefferson Debo (2000); her nephew, Daniel Christopher Debo (2011); her infant son, James Vernon Marsden (1968); and at least four out of five former husbands.
Sandi leaves behind one surviving sibling, her baby brother James (Jim) Edward Debo and his fiancé Leigh Ann Kerchner (formerly of Belton) of Ft. Myers, Fla.; her eldest daughter, Michelle Kathleen Baker and her husband Larry of Independence; her step-daughter, Dianne Marsden-Ott of Odessa; her daughter Jennifer Sue Clark-Gardner and her wife, Teri of Raymore; and her youngest daughter, Suzen Jeannine Clemmons and her husband, Russell, of Port Charlotte, Fla. and formerly of Raymore. She also leaves her grandchildren: Brandon Clark and his wife, Alyssa; Tra Johnston, Cody Clemmons and his partner, Cassidy; Tara Fisher; Joshua Baker; Kayti Cash and her husband, Dustin; Meghan Clark and her partner, Bethany Cook; and Faith Baker. She leaves behind her great grandchildren: Roan Lee Johnston, Kaden Gabriel Banister, Cameron David Clark and Tovi Mae Johnston.
And finally, Sandi leaves other family and friends behind: Lana Kay Reich (cousin) , Donna Gum (cousin), Robert Debo (cousin),Barbara Yocum (cousin), Lisa Lawrence (niece), Christine Danielle Horsager (niece), Blaikee Markle (great niece), Jill Debo, (SIL) Maria Paz Debo (SIL), Amy Sudduth (niece), Lacey Falls(niece), Annie Debo (Niece), Ray Clark Jr., Kary Mann, Steve Clodfelter, Lisa Langston, Valarie Burdiek, Sam Collins, Jo Judd, Christine Rex, Kay Coker, and Kenny Mitchell. Many others not mentioned.
A memorial service will be held on the one year anniversary of her passing on: Sunday, April 3, 2022, from 2-5 p.m., Trinity Episcopal Church, 409 N. Liberty, Independence MO 64050. A reception to follow to share stories, memories and continue to heal. Please join us. Services will be led by Rev. Dr. Kary Mann.
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