Auriel Josephine Sandstead

Auriel Sandstead, a wife, mother, friend, activist, and quiltmaker is gone. She was the daughter of E. Fae Stanley and Charles Ford Oram. Self described as a fourth generation scrapbag quilter, she originated the Mary Stanley Quilt exhibits first shown in 1977 in Ft. Collins to benefit battered women’s shelters. A founding member of the Colorado Quilting Council, she served as its first president and in 1988 was inducted into the Colorado Quilting Council Hall of Fame. She was a founding member of the National Museum of Women in the Arts in Washinton, D.C. Auriel was published in Leaning into the Wind and Outstanding Poets of 1988. She published six volumes of A Cartouche Collection; Prairie Patched Medallions, 20th Century Pictographs from the Short Grass Prairies of Northeast Colorado. Auriel attended the University of Denver on a full scholarship. She graduated with honors, Phi Beta Kappa, for a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree from the University of Northern Colorado. She was a lifetime teacher in the classroom and in life. She was married to Willard Woodrow Sandstead, farmer and rancher, March 16, 1946 in Greeley. They had three daughters. She and Willard were active in the Willard and Sterling community. They were members of the Willard Methodist Church. Each had an antique car as members of The Flatlanders Antique Car Club. Auriel Sandstead passed away on Sunday, November 25, 2007 at Bonell Good Samaritan Community. Survivors: Vicki Jo Sandstead of Boston, Massachusettes; Margo Dale Mesch, husband Larry and grandsons Robert and Kerry of unknown location; and Shauna Gae Sandstead Corona, husband Gustavo and grandchildren Cristobal Clyde and Emily Jo of Mexico City, Mexico, and grandson Erick Gustavo Corona and his wife Liseth of Seattle, Washington. Preceded in death by her husband Willard March 14, 2007. Services: 11:00 a.m Saturday December 1, 2007 at Borgman Chapel at Bonell Good Samaritan Community, 708 22nd St. Greeley, CO 80631. Reception: following Celebration of Life Service at the Walz Community Hall at Bonell Good Samaritan Community. Note: Memorial Contributions may be made to the National Museum of Women in the Arts and/or the Women’s Place Shelter c/o Adamson Funeral & Cremation Services 2000 47th Ave., Greeley, CO 80634.