Sandra Kay (Guilfoyle, Cooper) Phelps was born November 13, 1949, in Tulsa, Oklahoma, the third of 11 children, to Richard Lewis and Doris Francille Russell Guilfoyle. She died Thursday, July 29, 2021, in Tulsa, Oklahoma, at the age of 71 years. Sandy graduated from Catoosa High School (1968) and received her bachelor’s degree from Northeastern State University (NSU) in Tahlequah, OK. Sandy was a life-long educator and spent most of her career teaching math in the Owasso Public School System. She was a faithful Catholic, attending Mass regularly at Saint Therese Catholic Church in Collinsville, OK.
As a child, Sandy was an active member in 4-H and continued throughout her life as a 4-H volunteer and leader, impacting countless youth throughout Rogers County. She lived the life of a servant, freely sharing her time and talents with friends and strangers alike. You could find her tutoring, feeding cattle, baling hay, sewing, canning, playing cards, bowling, reading, crafting, gardening, baking, cheering in the stands, catching fireflies, or fixing whatever happened to be broken.
Those she leaves behind who hold many cherished memories include:
Children: Jim Cooper and wife Tiffany
Pam Heape, Teresa Cooper, and Scott Phelps
Stepchildren: Tom Phelps, Theresa Jo Manderski, James Phelps, and Joe Phelps
Grandchildren: Tamra Stowers, Ashley Cooper, Chloe Cooper, Alexis Cooper,
Dawson Cooper, Meagan Heinrich, Travis Heape, Tyler Heape, Ryan Heape, Nicholas Heape, William Manderski, Caitlin Manderski, Cheyenne Phelps, ten Great Grandchildren and a community of kids that affectionately call her Grandma.
Siblings: Sherry Foutz, Russell Guilfoyle, Chris George, Pat Ludwick, Mike Guilfoyle,
Phyllis Welch, Donna Horner, Jerri Guilfoyle, and Stephen Guilfoyle
She was preceded in death by her parents, first husband Joseph Wesley Cooper, second husband, James William Phelps, Jr., and sister, Joan McClure.
A Rosary service will be held 7:00 p.m. Wednesday, August 4, 2021, at the Mowery Funeral Service Chapel in Owasso with visitation prior to service. A Funeral Mass will be held 10:00 a.m. Thursday, August 5, 2021, at St. Cecilia’s Catholic Church in Claremore, Oklahoma. Graveside service will follow at Oak Haven Memorial Gardens in Claremore, Oklahoma. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial contributions be made in Sandy’s memory to the Rogers County United Way, P.O. Box 1165, Claremore, Oklahoma, 74018, or at www.uwrmc.org . Arrangements and services were entrusted to Mowery Funeral Service of Owasso.
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