Sandra Lee Archey, 82, of Rochester, Illinois, formerly of Clinton, Illinois, passed away Friday evening, December 12th, peacefully, surrounded by her family at The Carriages of Rochester. Sandy and her identical twin sister, Sonia Hall, were born September 18, 1943, in Decatur, Illinois, the daughters of Charles and Kathryn Strohl. On August 23, 1964, she married the love of her life, Gary Archey, in Bement, Illinois.
Sandy is survived by her children, Melissa L. Archey (Glenn) of Chicago, Illinois/Clontarf, Australia, and Ryan C. Archey (Heather) of Rochester, Illinois; and her three grandchildren, Katie, Denny, and Charlie Archey. She was preceded in death by her parents, her beloved husband, Gary, her identical twin sister, Sunny, and her brother-in-law, Tom Hall.
Sandy began her teaching career in 1965 at Pana High School, where she formed lifelong friendships and collected a treasure trove of stories that she loved to retell with laughter and fondness. After she and Gary settled in Clinton, Illinois, she continued teaching art at Wapella Schools and later at Heyworth Schools, sharing her creativity and love of art with countless students. Her classroom was a place of encouragement and imagination, where every child was reminded that art – and life – were meant to be joyful acts of creation.
Her greatest masterpiece, however, was her family. She poured her creativity and love into raising her two children, filling their lives with imagination, joy, and wonder, and later did the same for her three grandchildren. Family and friends were the center of her world. She never missed an opportunity to be present, whether sitting through rain-soaked sporting events, attending dance recitals, or watching school plays and musicals. Summers with her as a mother or grandmother were magical, full of joy, and filled with countless smiles and much laughter. Her pride and her love for her family were limitless.
Sandy never met a stranger, thriving on connections and relationships with others. She had an uncanny ability to draw out someone’s life story over a train ride to Chicago or while sitting in a waiting room for an appointment. Her wickedly cheeky, sometimes dark sense of humor, and her ever-present smile reflected a boundless optimism and warmth that touched everyone who knew her.
A celebration of Sandy’s life will be held at Clinton Country Club Saturday, December 20, 2025 beginning at 10 a.m., with the service at 11 a.m. The family entrusted Calvert Funeral Home, Clinton, IL with arrangements. In place of flowers, the Archey Family would be honored by donations made in Sandy’s memory to the Michael J Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research or The Baby Fold in Normal, Illinois.
Sandy’s legacy of love, laughter, and creativity will live on in all who were fortunate enough to know her.
Online condolences may be made at www.calvertmemorial.com
