Sandra Jean “Sandy” Sneed, of Springfield, Missouri, passed away on September 9, 2026, at the age of 79.

Born April 30, 1947, to Freda and Thomas Ellis, Sandy was a lifelong resident of Springfield. She was funny, stubborn and feisty, but behind that spunky personality was an incredibly caring woman who loved her family fiercely. If Sandy loved you, you knew it.

On March 6, 1964, Sandy married Thomas “Tommy” R. Sneed. Together they built a life centered around family, but they also knew how to have a good time. Sandy and Tommy loved to dance—and they were good at it. Over the years, the two won numerous dance contests together. They shared nearly 44 years of marriage before Tommy passed away in 2008.

Sandy worked at Zenith before beginning her career with Commerce Bank, where she worked as an auditor until her retirement. She was funny, independent and sharp as a tack. Her witty one-liners kept people rolling, usually followed by a wink!

But work was only one small part of Sandy’s story.

Sandy loved cars. In her younger years, she and Tommy built two hot rods—a 1933 Chevy Sedan and a 1933 Chevy Coupe—and was a member of the Rods and Relics car club. That love of cars and racing became part of family life as well. When Richie raced his Suzuki 80cc and 125cc motorcycles, Sandy was his biggest cheerleader. She was at every race, proudly cheering him on from the sidelines. Wherever Richie was racing, you could count on Sandy being there.

And then there was the music.

To her family, Sandy wasn’t simply Grammy. She was their “Rock and Roll Grammy.”

She loved Elvis, the Bee Gees, KC and the Sunshine Band, and the rock-and-roll music that provided the soundtrack to so much of her life. When one of those familiar songs came on the radio, Sandy would often say, “I have danced a million miles to that song!”

And she very well may have.

As much as Sandy loved music, dancing, cars and old movies, nothing came close to the love she had for her family.

Her children, Richie and Kristi, remained incredibly close to their mother throughout her life. Even as adults, they saw Sandy nearly every day. They shared meals, talked football and simply enjoyed being together. Sandy wasn’t only their mother; she was a best friend, a mentor and an important part of their everyday lives.

Then came one of Sandy’s favorite roles of all: Grammy.

Her granddaughters, Makinzie, Kyndal and Emily, were a tremendous source of joy in her life. When the girls were young, Sandy frequently cared for them, and some of their best memories with Grammy came from the simplest days together—digging in the dirt, baking cookies, going to the movies and singing on the swing.

Those ordinary days became extraordinary memories.

Later, Sandy had the joy of welcoming another generation when Makinzie and her husband, Drew, gave her her only great-grandchild, Dawson. Her face lit up every time she saw him, and she would say, “There’s my Great Grand!” before trying to tickle him.

Sandy was preceded in death by her father, Thomas Ellis; her mother, Freda; her older sister, Sharon Kay Doke; and her husband, Thomas “Tommy” R. Sneed.

Sandy missed her momma and Sharon deeply and spoke with excitement about the day she would see them again in Heaven. Her family can take comfort in imagining that long-awaited reunion—with her sweet little momma and cherished sister together with her once again, and perhaps Tommy nearby, waiting for his dance partner.

Sandy is survived by her son, Richard “Richie” Allen Sneed and wife Stacie Sneed; her daughter, Kristi Kay Neukirch (Sneed) and husband Jeff Neukirch; her grandchildren, Makinzie Morrison and husband Drew Morrison, Kyndal Neukirch, and Emily Neukirch; her great-grandson, Dawson Morrison; and countless friends and family.

There is one final thing Sandy wanted everyone to know.

Whenever Kool & the Gang’s “Celebration” came on the radio, Sandy would tell her family, “This is the song I want played at my funeral. I want everyone to have a good time and not be sad. Have a party!”

That was Sandy.

She didn’t want the people she loved gathered together simply mourning that she was gone. She wanted music. She wanted laughter. She wanted stories. She wanted her family together. And if Sandy had anything to say about it, she wanted a party.

So when the music starts and the stories begin—some sentimental and undoubtedly some very funny—her family will remember exactly what their Rock and Roll Grammy asked of them.

Don’t just mourn her. Celebrate her.

And if there is rock and roll playing in Heaven, you can be certain Sandy has already found the dance floor.