Sandra Jean Field

Sandra Jean Field, aged 91, passed away peacefully on March 24, 2024, in Austin, Texas, at home with her daughter Sherry and son-in-law Russ. She was born in her grandmother’s bedroom in Emerson, Arkansas, to Curtis Lee Evers and Susie Tucker Evers. She is predeceased in death by her parents, husband N.L. (Rink) Field; brother, Charles Evers; sister Sharon McCrary and son, Cap Field. She is survived by daughter Dr. Sherry Field and husband Russ Hodes, Austin, TX; cousin Elva Sue Kimball, Houston, TX; nephew Chris Evers and wife Dr. Sharon Evers, Texarkana, TX; niece Dawn Zajicek and husband Randy, Montgomery, TX; niece Laurie Hanna and husband Ed, Lockhart, TX; “adopted grandson,” Jonas Spangberg in Sweden; and many friends in Longview. A child of the Great Depression and World War II, she had many memories of school and life in the oil fields. Her father worked for Humble Oil & Refining Company and Esso, which later became Exxon, and the family moved frequently for work in new oil fields. Sandra attended ten schools before high school. She was always the new girl in class, and this helped her develop a sense of curiosity and observational skills. She remembered leading war stamp and bond sales in her grade schools during the war, and moving to Highland, TX so that her father could assist with wartime fuel production. Sandra met her red-headed cowboy and future husband at New London High School, of which she and Rink were 1950 graduates. Sandra was salutatorian of the senior class. A 1953 graduate of Sam Houston State Teachers College, she later received her master’s degree there. Sandra spoke endearingly of her college days with Rink as a young married couple. A longtime resident of Longview, Texas, for almost 70 years, she was a member of the First United Methodist Church, Henry Foster Sunday School Class and Dorcas Bible Club. She retired from Longview ISD, where she taught fourth grade at Mozelle Johnston Elementary. Her classroom was the first at her school to be integrated during desegregation. After retirement, Sandra spearheaded the Little Log Schoolhouse project at her elementary school, overseeing the fundraising, building (courtesy of Satterwhite Log Homes), and procurement of authentic furnishings for the classroom. The one-room schoolhouse was utilized by all 3rd grade children in LISD who would take a field trip there to experience a day in the life of a pioneer. She served as a docent at the schoolhouse for 10 years. Additionally, she ran her family business, Quik-Clean Laundry, until she was 80. Sandra loved travel, gardening and playing dominoes and cards with friends and relatives. She treated her sister, daughter and son to many adventures in far-away places like New York City, Atlanta, Savannah, San Francisco, Orlando, Philadelphia, Washington, D.C. and Washington state, Canada, Hawaii, Chicago and London, England. She and her daughter traveled to Sweden three times over the years to visit Jonas Spangberg, who had been an exchange student in Little Rock, AR with daughter Sherry. Her last travels were to New York City for her 86th birthday to see Hamilton on Broadway. Entertaining and reading were other favored activities, and many parties, showers, club meetings, receptions and even weddings were hosted at her homes on Tryon Road and Vicksburg Court. She was enlightened by her book club, and when the books were selected for the coming year, she would read all of them back-to-back and not wait for the assigned month. Her beloved “Game Girls” (Peggy, Pat, Claudette and Joan) met every Friday for a fun afternoon of conversation, game playing and snacks. Sandra’s gardening skills were legendary; she was very proud to be a Master Gardener. She increased the size of her greenhouse on Tryon Road many times to hold more treasured plants! Her circular driveway and garden on Vicksburg Court always attracted attention from neighbors, birds, squirrels, rabbits and especially hummingbirds. She created Rink’s Garden in an upper flowerbed as a living memorial. Sandra will be interred at Rosewood Park Cemetery in Longview on June 12. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the N.L. and Sandra Field Endowed Scholarship at the College of Education, The University of Texas. To make a gift online, use the following link: https://giving.utexas.edu/nl-sandra-field To give by mail: College of Education The University of Texas at Austin c/o Ian Tuski 1912 Speedway Mail Stop D5000 Austin, TX 78712 This scholarship was established to assist education students achieve their college degrees. Sandra and Rink were both proud, first-generation college graduates who were grateful that they had the opportunity to go to college. They sought to provide that opportunity for students in the future. Alternatively, memorials may be made to First United Methodist Church or Asbury House in Longview, TX or the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America.