Sandra Jean Gosnell Pyles Life

12 September 1945-27 January 2025

Sandra Pyles passed away peacefully in her home on January 27, 2025 surrounded by all of her family members. Sandra's life was known by her love, incredible strength, resilience and utter devotion to her family whom she cherished and always put first in her life.

Sandra Jean Gosnell was born 12 September 1945 in Portland, Oregon, 10 days after Japan surrendered to the Allies ending WW2. She was the first child to Max Davis Gosnell and Florence Hellen Henry, shipyard workers at Kaiser Swan Island Shipyard during the War.

Of English and Scots-Irish stock, Sandra's ancestry boasts a royal pedigree from Irish King Nial of the Nine Hostages through Edward I and Robert Abell of Rehoboth, MA (with a peer-reviewed royal ancestry),and knights in the First Crusade at the fall of Jerusalem 1099. Sandra's forefathers were brave Mayflower passengers, soldiers who fought in the French and Indian War, American Revolution, War of 1812, and Confederate and Union Armies. Her grandfather, Bert Gosnell, served in the Canadian Expeditionary Force in 1917 at Passchendaele in WW1 succumbing to the horrors of gas warfare and honored by George V for his service to the Crown. Sandra's brother Norman was a sailor on the USS Laffey (DD724) in WW2.

At a young age, Sandra's parents leased a dairy farm in Mayger, Oregon along the Columbia River. It was on this farm she spent her childhood enjoying the farm animals and she fondly reminisced of this time throughout her life. When she was a young girl, Sandra gave her life to Jesus while attending Mayger Downing Community Church.

Sandra's parents moved the family to Clatskanie, Oregon where She graduated from Clatskanie High School in 1963. A Kennedy fan, Sandra wrote to Jacqueline that year and received a reply letter that she saved in her scrapbook. That September, Sandra attended Seattle Pacific University of which she was proud to be her alma mater. While at college, Sandra studied German (a language she studied the rest of her life) and met Francis Shaffer. She graduated there in 1967.

While at college in the summer of 1965, Sandra's parents moved to Oakridge, Oregon, where Max (her father) worked as an electrician at the mill and the curator of the Oakridge Museum. Sandra then got a job teaching in Eugene to be close to her family.

On 21 December 1968, Sandra married Ward William Pyles in Oakridge, OR. That summer of 1969, the couple moved to Portland where Ward attended Western Baptist Seminary and Sandra taught 4th grade in Milwaukee a position she held until her son Nathan was born in May 1972. While on vacation in 1971, Sandra shook Richard Nixon's hand getting his autograph in Idaho Falls, Idaho.

Sandra and Ward attended a Baptist church in Boring for 3 years. In 1972, Ward graduated seminary and they attended South East Baptist Church in Portland. When Ward was offered a job as the principal of a christian school at Progress Bible Church, they began attending there. Their second son Andrew (Andy) was born shortly after. In 1976, Ward and Sandra moved to Corvallis Oregon to start a Christian School at the FourSquare Church and soon after their first daughter Karisa was born. They bought a 2 acre farm on Hwy 20 where they raised their 4 children. In 1979 Sandra, Ward and family attended King Circle Assembly of God where they taught Sunday School for many years. In December 1980, their second daughter Christina (Christy) was born. Sandra was a stay at home mom, homeschooling her children. With an orchard, and garden, Sandra would make apple crisp, cider and fresh pickles, canning and grinding wheat on her grinder and baking her own bread. She had a passion for Child Evangelism and opened her home to the local school to host weekly Bible studies for the kids. She was very hospitable and always opened her home and offered a meal to anyone who stopped by and made them feel like family.

Sandra was a devoted Christian. She would daily read the Bible to her children engendering a personal relationship with Jesus at an early age. An avid reader, Sandra read to her children the Chronicles of Narnia, Tom Sawyer, and many other classics. Sandra often spent many hours at the library with her children. Not owning a TV, Sandra listened to the radio; Focus on the Family, Adventures in Good Music, All Things Considered and Irish Trad on the Thistle and Shamrock. Always interested in politics and current events, she taught her children "who was who" in American politics, and current world leaders.

Sandra enjoyed playing Scott Joplin and hymns on the piano, ensuring her children received musical training in piano and violin. A keen observer of nature, she delighted in the smallest details and often collected fall leaves and any treasures she would find outside. She cherished family history, collecting photos and letters, including one from her great uncle during the Civil War in 1864. In September 1987, Sandra and her family traveled to Washington, D.C., and New York City. Their itinerary included the Smithsonian Museums, Mount Vernon, the White House, the Capitol, the Supreme Court, the Empire State Building, the Statue of Liberty, and the top of the World Trade Center.

In 1997, they moved to Nampa, Idaho where Ward started a new job and Sandra went back to school to get recertified as a school teacher. Sandra taught second and fourth grade at Park Ridge elementary for 10 years and was truly a hard worker.. She put her heart and soul into teaching and often spent many hours after school grading papers. She enjoyed the kids she taught and kept in touch with some of them.

In 1999, Sandra and Ward traveled with their kids to Highlands, NC to see Sandra's antebellum ancestral home, and meet her many southern relatives.

In 2004, she became a grandmother for the first time and traveled to Ireland to see her granddaughter Maebh. In 2007 Sandra and Ward traveled to France and Germany where she could practice her German.

Sandra and Ward often visited their son Andy and daughter in law Jill and David (grandson) in Williamsburg, Virginia. They visited historic Williamsburg and Sandra loved learning about all the history there. They traveled to many states together including Ohio and Florida where Sandra went to Walt Disney World with her grandson David and his family on one such trip.

Sandra loved spending time with her grandchildren. Some of her favorite things to do with them were: Cousin sleepovers, Groundhogs day treasure hunts, Teaching them fun songs, and Directing mini plays that the grandkids participated in. After retiring from teaching in 2010, Sandra assisted in teaching her homeschooled grandchildren how to read and helped with homework on a weekly basis. She deeply loved her grandchildren and cherished her time with them. She regularly attended their sports activities and performances and would cheer them on with a big smile and a congratulatory hug.

In 2014 Sandra and Ward joined Sovereign Grace Christian Fellowship where she faithfully attended the last decade of her life involved with the women's ministry and befriending many people who loved her.

On 21 December 2018 Sandra and Ward celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary, hosting a celebration with friends and family at their house in Nampa.

Sandra was preceded in death by her brother Norman Jergenson and is survived by her sister Patty (Jim) West, husband of 56 years Ward Pyles, children Nathan (Jeanette) Pyles, Andrew (Jill) Pyles, Karisa (Jon) Fristad and Christy (Jared) Scofield as well as 10 grandchildren. Maebh Pyles, Jesse Scofield, David Pyles, Dureyin Pyles, Jack Scofield, Abbey Fristad, Thaedrin Pyles, Caelyn Fristad, Claire Scofield and Aebyric Pyles.

In lieu of flowers the family would like donations made in Sandra's name to the following places that Sandra held dear to her heart:

Troutcreek Bible Camp 38105 SE Gordon Creek Road Corbett, Oregon 97019

https://www.tcbc.com/donate/

Oakridge Museum 48238 E 1st St. Oakridge, Oregon 97463

Mayger Downing Community Church 80071 Life Lane Clatskanie, Oregon 97016

Memorial Service at Sovereign Grace Fellowship 1311 6th St. S. Nampa, ID 83651 Saturday, February 22,2025 1:00-2:30 - MST

Copy this link to view additional details about Sandra's Services, including any available live streams: https://my.gather.app/remember/sandra-pyles

Link for Memorial Service on Saturday, February 22, 2025. https://m.youtube.com/@sovereigngracefellowshipna3831