August 12, 1939 – May 22, 2020
Sandra Marie Beam, 80, Sheridan, passed away on Friday morning, May 22, 2020 at Riverview Health in Noblesville. Born August 12, 1939 in Lebanon, Ind., she was the daughter of the late Joseph Maurice and Esther Louise (Portis) Padgett.
She attended elementary school at Center Township School #5 and high school at Sheridan where she was a cheerleader. Later in life Sandra earned her GED through Brownsburg High School. Sandra always put everyone in her life first, and this was one of the few times that she did something just for herself.
Farming always seemed to be in Sandra’s blood. She assisted her late husband with their farm responsibilities. From keeping the books to helping in the fields, she enjoyed the many aspects of farm life. She loved hopping on a tractor and ripping through the fields getting everything ready to be planted, and good luck getting her out of the combine or off the baler during harvest time. She felt most at home when she was at the center of everything going on at the farm.
Sandra was a private person; however, she and Dale seemed to be a part of every farm club imaginable. They were a package deal, and depending on the event, she was either Dale’s sidekick or he was hers; if one of them was somewhere, the other wasn’t too far behind. Sandra was a member of the Jr. Women’s Club, Young Farmers, Flywheelers Tractor Club, Central Indiana Antique Tractor Association, Mid America Threshing Association, and Johnson County Antique Machinery Association. She was also a Brownie Troop Leader for many years.
She enjoyed sewing, gardening, crocheting, and crafting, but caring for her animals was one of her favorite things to do. She loved taking care of her pigs so much that she ended up making pets out of them.
Sandra loved her family very much, and that included her church family at Christian Liberty Church.
She is survived by her daughter, Rhonda Darlene Beam, Sheridan; brothers, John W. Padgett (Donna), Sheridan, and Jeffrey Wayne Padgett, Sheridan; sisters, Jane Ann Padgett, Cicero, Wanda Kincaid, Indianapolis, Sonja Williams, Lebanon, and Sue Spencer (Jim), Crawfordsville.
She was preceded in death by her parents; and by her husband, Donald Dale Beam, on November 9, 2019. She and Dale were married on January 1, 1956.
Graveside services will be held at 2 p.m. on Saturday, May 30, 2020 at Spencer Cemetery in Sheridan. Jim Spencer will be officiating.
Memorial contributions may be presented to Christian Liberty Church, c/o Holly King – Treasurer, 2225 E. 75 N., Lebanon, IN 46052.
Arrangements have been entrusted to Kercheval Funeral Home in Sheridan. Condolences: kerchevalfuneralhome.com