Sandra “Sandy” Rae Courter, 72, of Allendale, Illinois, peacefully passed away Monday, January 29, 2024, at St. Vincent Hospital in Evansville, Indiana, surrounded by her loving family.
Sandy was born to the late Raymond and Norma (Driggs) Gillihan on May 19, 1951, in Princeton, Indiana. She was a graduate of Allendale High School and received an associate degree from Wabash Valley College. Sandy married Vaughn H. Courter on September 24, 1972, in Allendale, Illinois. To this union three sons were born: Matthew Courter of Olney, Illinois, Andrew (Sarah) Courter of Allendale, Illinois, and Adam (Monica) Courter of Vincennes, Indiana. Also surviving are her grandchildren, Hallie, Isaiah and Avalene Courter; one sister, Susan (Darrell) Campbell of Robards, Kentucky; and a half-brother and half-sister, Jason Gillihan and Mandy (Gillihan) Stoltz.
In her earlier years, she was a claims typist at Golden Rule Insurance in Lawrenceville, Illinois. After the birth of her first son, Sandy became a full-time homemaker. She played the piano for church services since age 13. She loved to crochet, making numerous afghans, house slippers, sock hats, capes, and doilies. She loved reading and had many books waiting to be read.
After her children were grown, Sandy worked briefly at Daylight Plastics in Bridgeport, Illinois. She worked at CST/Motorad in Mt. Carmel, Illinois for 17 years, from which she retired. After Vaughn entered the ministry in 2007, she served alongside him, enriching the spiritual lives of those in the church, while also serving as a pianist at Asbury Chapel United Methodist Church and Bellmont United Methodist Church. She was a member of Allendale United Methodist Church. Her faith and her relationship with God was strong. She believed in prayer and was known as a prayer warrior in the churches she served and attended. She loved her kids and grandkids. They were always in her prayers. She made them laugh with her humorous singing, which included a unique and hilarious rendition of “Happy Birthday.”
She was preceded in death by her parents, Raymond and Norma Gillihan, and brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Zane and Nancy Courter
Funeral services will be held Friday, February 2, 2024, at 12:00 noon in the Chapel of Short-Cunningham Funeral Home, 527 N. Mulberry Street, Mt. Carmel, Illinois, with burial following at Allendale Cemetery.
A visitation will be held before the funeral service from 10:00 a.m. until the time of service, 12:00 noon.
Memorials may be made to Hope Pregnancy, 612 N. Market Street, Mt. Carmel, Illinois 62863, Circle A Servolution, Inc., 103 S. State Street, Allendale, Illinois 62410 or Living the Adventure Ministries, 203 N. 2nd Street, Albion, Illinois 62806.
Condolences may be sent to www.short-cunninghamfh.com
Short-Cunningham Funeral Home is honored to serve Sandy’s family.
