In Memoriam : Sandra Ashford

Sandra Ashford Sandra Jean Ashford - age: 75
(November 24, 1949 to June 14, 2025 )
Resident of Exeter, California

Visitation Information:
Services will be graveside at Corcoran Cemetery on Saturday, July 12, at 10:00 a.m. and all family and friends are invited to attend. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations for the homeless. Baskets will be available at the funeral, $10.00 gift cards for McDonalds, shampoo, conditioner, soap, toilet paper, deodorant, toilet brushes, and other toiletries are needed.

Obituary:
Sandi Ashford was born on November 24, 1949, to Samuel and Mildred Odle in Corcoran, California. She passed from this life to her heavenly home on June 14, 2025, surrounded by her loving family.

Sandi was the fourth of four children in her family. Her family suffered and persevered through the years with her mothers diagnosis of glioblastoma, and her fathers MS diagnosis, while Sandi was under five.
Sandi graduated Corcoran High School in 1969, and lived in Oakland CA, for a few years before returning to Corcoran and marrying the love of her life, Richard Ashford, in May of 1971. They just recently celebrated their 54th wedding anniversary.

Sandi was the original entrepreneur woman. One of her first businesses was “The Plant Lover’s Barn”, a flower shop in downtown Corcoran. Sandi co-owned this business with her good friend Peggy Heck. Years later when asked why she stopped running the flower shop, she’d say “Well, we spent more money on lunch and dinner than we made selling flowers.” Sandi had many other careers on her way to finding her calling. She was a waitress, cleaned houses, worked at Quick Trip, and of course she was a mother and a wife. Sandi found her calling in teaching, and after successfully finishing college she accepted a position at Corcoran Unified School District. She taught special education for the district for 19 years. She was teacher of the year for the district, for the county, and one of the top 10 teachers of California for 2000.
Sandi never actually retired. Sandi and Richard moved to the City of Exeter in 2012. She began a successful and respected career in Exeter as a small downtown antique dealer. Her faith in God, her charm, smile, loyalty, and authenticity brought people back often. Her husband Richard was constant companion in every venture. Sandi was the face of the operation, but make no mistake Richard was the man behind the scenes making it happen. Sandi would be the first person to tell you this. Richard was always her hero.

Sandi had a belief and a faith in God that was very real and personal. She wanted everyone to share that same experience. She was a woman who believed in God, had faith in her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, and truly lived in a way that brought honor and glory to the Lord. She took every opportunity to lift her voice in song, whether using her beautiful voice to glorify God or to entertain others with her charm, wit, or just divine grace.

Along with her deep faith, family was the driving force in Sandi’s life. Her husband and children were her crowning achievement, and she took pride in each of them. She was a loving wife and mother and when her grandchildren and great grandchildren came along, each of them was a shining star in her world. She was beloved by all her nieces, nephews, and successive generations who each, in turn, came to know her as one of the greatest storytellers they ever knew. Her legendary stories were rooted in her many adventures and were spun with joy, laughter, and a little bit of mischief. To say that she was loved is an understatement. She was the mother, grandmother, great grandmother, sister, aunt that everyone wishes they had. She always had a listening ear, and as a former teacher a lesson to impart.
Sandi was an avid gardener. Her yard was a lesson in living Psalm 19:1-2, “The heavens declare the glory of God; And the firmament shows His handiwork.”
Sandi is survived by her devoted husband Richard Ashford; children Angela Smith, Richard Ashford Jr., and many other children she’s helped along the way, grandchildren Jessariah, Matthew, Angie, Bryan, Hunter, Hunter, Mykala, and Scoutt; great grandchildren Maeve and Zariah; sisters Kay Hoppert, and Fay White, and sisters in love Chris Gilpin, Kathy Jones, Ruth Ashford, Louella Ashford, and Delicia Odle; brothers in love John Ashford, and Roger Daniels; many nieces and nephews, extended family, and friends. Sandi was preceded in death by her parents and her brother Doug Odle, brothers in love Doyle Hoppert, Ron White, Ray Ashford, Joe Ashford, and Bernard Jones, sisters in love Dixie Ashford, Pat Daniels, and Elizabeth Ashford.