Sandra Kay Holladay, 78, of Eureka, passed away peacefully on July 30, 2019.

SandraFest began on October 7, 1940, in South Bend, Indiana, much to the delight of Ralph and Ruth (Hooton) Tuttle.

She loved learning, and began her career at Central High School in South Bend, Indiana. She excelled in the arts where her teacher taught her to project her voice to the back of the room, a talent which she perfected by regularly calling her kids to task as they were growing up. She moved on to Indiana University for a time, and later took classes in Fashion Design at Washington University.

Sandra loved sewing, and made a lifetime of different projects. She started at a young age with 4H, and made her own clothes. Later, she owned a dressmaking shop where she made wedding and prom dresses. She made Halloween costumes for her children each year. She loved to quilt, and she made a lot of doll wardrobes and bedding, including miniature quilts.

She belonged to 4H for many years. She learned to shoot from her grandfather and competed in 4H shooting competitions, earning four badges for marksmanship and sharpshooting.

She loved Studebaker cars, which were manufactured in South Bend. Her first car was a Studebaker dubbed “Lucy Bolts!”

In 1960, she met Lou Mennillo, Sr. They married in 1961 in South Bend and had three children while moving around the Midwest and Northeast eight times to five states in 12 years.

She worked many years in the Wardrobe Department at Six Flags Over Mid America where she made many lifelong friends. Six Flags is also where she met her second husband, Les Holladay, Sr. who preceded her in death.

She loved to travel. She would take her children out of school for educational trips such as seeing the grave of her idol, Annie Oakley, and teaching them about how the sharpshooter inspired her during her 4H years, and to see the “Piatt Castles” in Ohio, teaching her children about life in a large mansion. She was adamant that her children learn about all the places they moved to, exploring all the cities and their surroundings where they lived.

She traveled extensively throughout the US, exploring many cities, sites, and attended numerous World’s Fairs. She loved theme parks, visiting Disneyland, Disney World and Epcot Center, and many other Six Flags parks.

She was adventurous, and loved trying out new roller coasters at the theme parks she visited. She loved talking about the time she went skydiving, and the helicopter ride she took. She talked about going on a balloon ride, and always looked for ways to be able to zip line.

England, especially Stonehenge, were on her Bucket List, and she was able to travel there in 1998. While there, she visited the town of Hooton in Cheshire, the ancestral home of her DAR patriot, Thomas Hooton. She spoke constantly of her stay in a haunted castle on her birthday that year.

She loved working on her genealogy, equating the work to being a detective. She was a proud member of the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution, and was Regent of Valley of the Meramec chapter from 2002 – 2004.

She has spent the last four years at St. Andrew’s at Francis Place where she enjoyed a full social life with many new friends. She enjoyed participating in all the activities there, including Bingo, Shake Shack and the numerous parties for the residents. She was president of the Resident council for a second term.

She adored her family. Nothing made her happier than family gatherings with food, family and laughter.

SandraFest ended on a high note late on July 30, 2019. Until the last note sounded that day she was planning menus and making grocery lists for her next meals. She lived life fully until the very end. She set an example for all of us.

Sandra is survived by her loving children and grandchildren.