Sandra Elise Goldsworthy

Sandy died peacefully surrounded by her family on August 25, 2024. Sandy was born on November 29, 1940 in Nacogdoches, TX to Walton Monroe (Nick) Nixon and Grace Trinkman Cravy Nixon (Nickie). When Sandy was two years old her family moved to Ft. Worth, TX. Later the family was transferred to Lincoln, NE where her Father was an agronomist with the Soil Conservation Service.

In 1953 her Father went to work for the State Department and moved to Ankara, Turkey. Sandy attended the American Military grade school. In 1955 the family moved back to the USA, but in 1956 they moved to Jodhpur, India where her Father was a Foreign Service Officer. While living in Turkey and India her family traveled to Beirut, Lebanon, Damascus, Syria and Amman, Jordon; Jerusalem; Cairo, Egypt; the Isle of Cyprus; Athens, Greece; Naples and Rome, Italy. Sandy returned to the US for her senior year at Northridge High School in Ft. Worth, TX. She attended TCU for one year.

In 1971 while living in Houston, TX Sandy met the love of her life when she had a blind date with Tom Goldsworthy. They were married later that year and together they raised four wonderful children.

Sandy was an accomplished watercolor artist, seamstress, gardener and incredible wife, mother and grandmother (Nana) to her 11 grandchildren and 2 great-grandchildren. For many years she sewed matching pajamas at Christmas for her 11 grandchildren. Her dozens and dozens of Christmas cookies she baked every year were legendary.

Sandy volunteered as home room mother for each of her children while they attended St. Eugene School. She drove on field trips and coached track. She cooked giant pans of chicken noodle casserole for mobile meals and directed funeral dinners for many years.

She hand wrote and illustrated with colored pencils storybooks for each of her grandchildren with stories that meant something to each child.

She made countless stuffed animals and creations for all of her grandkids - decorations for nurseries, dresses, blankets, capes, costumes, pillows and wall hangings – so many beautiful treasures. And she monogramed fleece blankets for each grandchild.

For years she has made her famous “Sandy’s coffee cakes” at Christmas for family and friends.

Sandy was a wonderful hostess, hosting huge parties at Christmas for family and friends and year round for family with great food, snacks, swimming and back yard football games, card games and laughter and more laughter.

For more than a decade Sandy spent every day with her mom, NIckie, running errands, watching TV, going to appointments and just being there for her in the most amazing way up until Nickie’s last day.

Sandy has been Mom to her many Golden Retrievers Sydney, Winston, Buddy, Missy and Lola. Taking each of them on daily walks and giving each of them an amazing life.

Sandy was an avid reader – sharing wonderful books with family and friends after she read them.

In the early 1990’s a group of seven women from St. Eugene Church (Sandy, Mary Ann Tomlinson, Kathy Payne, Terri Bernauer, Pat Maye, Jeananne Van Horn and Judy McGrath) formed a group known as the “sisters”. They also called themselves Sigma Eta Tau for sewing, eating and talking. They always had a party and celebrated whoever’s birthday it was and it also became a Gourmet Club for the couples that has lasted over 30 years.

Also in the 1990’s Sandy and Mary Ann formed a company called Marigold. They bought bolts of colorful fabric, shipped it to NYC where it was laminated and then sent back to Marigold. Sandy and Mary Ann used the laminated fabric to hand make unique raincoats that they sold.

Tom and Sandy took each grandchild on a two week trip after the 8th grade wherever they wished to go, most chose Europe. And when they got home she made each grandchild a hand written journal of everywhere they went and everything they saw as well as a photo album of the trip.

Sandy and Tom were avid travelers taking nine river boat cruises in Europe and the maiden voyage of the Viking Star and spending time at their T.O. Ranch in Colorado every summer since 1972. Also traveling almost every weekend from 1987 – 2000 to see the Florida State Seminoles play football. However, their most memorable trip was in 2008 lead by Archbishop Eusebius Beltran for the Equestrian Order for 15 days to the Holy Land, Amman, Jordan and Petra.

In 1997 Sandy was awarded the Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice Medal by Pope John Paul II for rendering distinguished service to the Catholic Church. She is also a 28-year member of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem, a Catholic organization that supports the Church’s work in the Holy Land.

Sandy is survived by her husband, Tom of 53 years. Her four children Michele Aguilera, Jim (wife Jennifer), Mark (wife Sheila) and Chris (wife Molly) Goldsworthy and 11 grandchildren, Nick, Grace, Emma, Hunter, Jacob, Tyler, Cooper, Kate, Luke, Samuel and Henry and two great-grandchildren, Gwen and Eli. In lieu of flowers donations can be made to the St. Eugene School Early Childhood Development Center or the Alzheimer Association. The family is grateful to Mercy Hospice for their care of Sandy and is eternally grateful to Julie Ford of First Light Home Care for her two years of loving care of Sandy.

Link to livestream: Saint Eugene Catholic Church OKC, OK - YouTube