Obituary for Sandra L. Merris (Miller)
Sandra Lee Merris, entrepreneur, mother, and life-long adventurer died at the age of 73 on March 14th, 2020. She valiantly fought Alzheimer’s Disease for 10 years.
Born in Tower City, PA on December 9, 1946 to the late Janet L. Miller (Shiley) and Marlin I. Miller, Sandy made her home in Lititz. She is survived by her two daughters and sons-in-law, Jennifer A. Merris and David Irish of Deerfield, NH and Christina L. Merris and Christopher Stamm of Mohrsville, PA, as well as her grandchildren, Maryn and Barrett Stamm of Mohrsville, PA. In addition to her daughters, she is survived by a sister and brother-in-law, Loryane and Dohn Drumheller, two nephews, Thomas and Anthony of Tower City, PA, and ex-husband and friend Charles L. Merris of Mount Joy, PA.
Sandy graduated from Porter Tower High School in 1964. After a quick stint in nursing school, Sandy realized she had a thirst for adventure and enrolled in flight attendant school in Minneapolis, MN. She earned a groovy 1960s uniform and a first job at New York City’s JFK Airport Northwest Airlines front desk.
That job ignited Sandy’s passion for travel, and she later became the first female vice president of Piedmont Travel in Greenville, SC. She opened her own travel agency, Lancaster, PA’s Ambassador Travel, Inc. in 1983. She was a travel industry expert with many notable achievements. Following September 11 she worked with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to coordinate exemptions from photo identification for Amish travelers, and she became an award-winning travel consultant for Norwegian Cruise Lines.
A trailblazer in an industry that specializes in adventure, she soared above the clouds even in her spare time. Her favorite hobby was aircraft gliding, which she did as often as possible with her lifelong best friend, Bob Bowers of Middletown, PA. In her life she took every opportunity to travel through Alaska by train, cruise to any location, or visit Sedona, AZ, her final resting place.
Sandy’s greatest adventure and source of pride was motherhood. Her daughters were the center of her life, and both carry her spark of exploration, love of animals, and passion for nature and the outdoors. She was an unfailing and courageous cheerleader, helping both of them develop the courage and leadership to start their own businesses.
They are now her greatest cheerleaders, knowing she is once again soaring above the clouds or walking through the woods.
A celebration of Sandra’s life will be held this summer. In lieu of flowers, Sandra’s family asks that you spend an hour of real, quality, engaged time with a loved one. Their time with Sandy was cut short twice—once by Alzheimer’s and now by death—and they ask that you make your own moments count.
Leibensperger Funeral Homes, Inc., is honored to assist the Merris family. For online condolences, please visit www.leibenspergerfuneralhomes.com
Born in Tower City, PA on December 9, 1946 to the late Janet L. Miller (Shiley) and Marlin I. Miller, Sandy made her home in Lititz. She is survived by her two daughters and sons-in-law, Jennifer A. Merris and David Irish of Deerfield, NH and Christina L. Merris and Christopher Stamm of Mohrsville, PA, as well as her grandchildren, Maryn and Barrett Stamm of Mohrsville, PA. In addition to her daughters, she is survived by a sister and brother-in-law, Loryane and Dohn Drumheller, two nephews, Thomas and Anthony of Tower City, PA, and ex-husband and friend Charles L. Merris of Mount Joy, PA.
Sandy graduated from Porter Tower High School in 1964. After a quick stint in nursing school, Sandy realized she had a thirst for adventure and enrolled in flight attendant school in Minneapolis, MN. She earned a groovy 1960s uniform and a first job at New York City’s JFK Airport Northwest Airlines front desk.
That job ignited Sandy’s passion for travel, and she later became the first female vice president of Piedmont Travel in Greenville, SC. She opened her own travel agency, Lancaster, PA’s Ambassador Travel, Inc. in 1983. She was a travel industry expert with many notable achievements. Following September 11 she worked with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to coordinate exemptions from photo identification for Amish travelers, and she became an award-winning travel consultant for Norwegian Cruise Lines.
A trailblazer in an industry that specializes in adventure, she soared above the clouds even in her spare time. Her favorite hobby was aircraft gliding, which she did as often as possible with her lifelong best friend, Bob Bowers of Middletown, PA. In her life she took every opportunity to travel through Alaska by train, cruise to any location, or visit Sedona, AZ, her final resting place.
Sandy’s greatest adventure and source of pride was motherhood. Her daughters were the center of her life, and both carry her spark of exploration, love of animals, and passion for nature and the outdoors. She was an unfailing and courageous cheerleader, helping both of them develop the courage and leadership to start their own businesses.
They are now her greatest cheerleaders, knowing she is once again soaring above the clouds or walking through the woods.
A celebration of Sandra’s life will be held this summer. In lieu of flowers, Sandra’s family asks that you spend an hour of real, quality, engaged time with a loved one. Their time with Sandy was cut short twice—once by Alzheimer’s and now by death—and they ask that you make your own moments count.
Leibensperger Funeral Homes, Inc., is honored to assist the Merris family. For online condolences, please visit www.leibenspergerfuneralhomes.com