Sandra M. Mars

Sandra M. (Larabee) Mars, 76, of North Vernon, passed away at 1:40 p.m. on Thursday, October 6, 2016, at her residence.

A funeral service will be conducted at 1:00 p.m. on Thursday, October 13, 2016, at Sawyer-Pickett Funeral and Cremation Service in North Vernon.  Rev. Bill Higgs will officiate.  Visitation will be from 4:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. on Wednesday, October 12, 2016 and from noon until the time of the service on Thursday, October 13, 2016 at the funeral home.  Burial will be in Vernon Cemetery.

Born November 8, 1939, in Glens Falls, NY, Sandra was the daughter of the late Ross and Ruth (Arnold) MacRae. She obtained her B.S. and M.S. degrees in education at SUNY Plattsburgh and taught 1st – 3rd grades in both New York and Indiana for a total of 31 years.  She was instrumental in the foundation of the Outdoor Lab at Graham Creek Elementary School. 

Sandra and her husband, Ronald N. Larabee, owned and operated The Commiskey Corner Store from 1979-1984. He preceded her in death in 1982.  She married Richard Mars in 1988 and he preceded her in death in 2005. 

She enjoyed fishing, bingo, gardening and reading.  Sandra belonged to Jennings County Retired Teachers Association, Eagles, Moose Lodge #1314, AmVets Post 7 and VFW Ladies Auxiliary where she was president for several years and ran the bingo kitchen.

Sandra is survived by her son, Bruce Larabee of North Vernon; a daughter, Lori Larabee of Dupont; two step-daughters, Lisa (William) Higgs of North Vernon and Lee Ann (Brian) Terrell of Ft. Myers, FL; grandchildren, Shaun Couch, Shane Clark, Kolton and Kylan Higgs, Adam and Alex Terrell and Lynnette Larabee; and two great-grandsons, Lovel Couch and Austin Lee.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Ross and Ruth MacRae; her husbands, Ronald Larabee and Richard Mars; and one daughter, Tamber Lyn Larabee.

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