Sandra Brown

Sandra Kathryn (Ross) Brown passed away peacefully while under hospice care at McLaren Northern Michigan Hospital in Petoskey on March 4, 2025. She was 80 years old. Many of her family members visited her the day before and surrounded her with love and support. Her youngest sister and god daughter were both holding her hand while she passed into the next life.

Sandra was born in Cheboygan on March 26, 1944, to Aloysius and Doris (Vieau) Ross and raised on a small farm east of town.

She had four sisters and six brothers. She attended Benton Township Country School for her first years of school and continued her education at St. Mary-St. Charles through high school, graduating in 1961. Sandra attended Mercy College and Eastern Michigan University culminating in a BS degree in Education. She began her teaching career in Ypsilanti, Michigan, and from there taught for a few years in Germany. When she returned to the U.S., she moved to California where she taught in the elementary school grades for several years. Sandra moved back across the country to further her education when she enrolled at Harvard University and acquired a MS degree in Special Education. When she returned to California, she taught Special Education classes until her career path took a new turn. In 1979, Sandra accepted an opportunity to work with IBM as a large computer systems Sales Representative, quickly moving into a management position. She continued her very successful career at IBM, eventually becoming a Marketing Manager and moving back east until her retirement. Most importantly, Sandra met the love of her life, Richard Brown, when visiting family and friends in Cheboygan. He truly was the “boy next door,” having grown up in Cheboygan just down the road from where Sandra grew up. Sandra and Rich tied the knot on August 2, 2003 at the Marx House on Duncan Bay, where they lived for several years, lovingly restoring the home and tending to the beautiful garden. Sandra and Rich spent their last years together in a condominium on the Cheboygan River, taking adventurous trips around the world during the winter months. They enjoyed spending time with family and friends and sharing stories over a glass of red wine.

Sandra is survived by her seven brothers and sisters: Louis Ross, Joanne (Tim) Howell, Doris (Bill) Wisniewski, Ted (Lillemor) Ross, Richard Ross, Betsy (John) Doyle and Rusty Ross.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Richard, and three siblings, Marilyn Romanik, Joseph Ross, and Al D. Ross.

A Celebration of Life will be held for family and friends on July 5th at the Howell residence.