Sandra Tietsort

On March 27, 1948 in Norfolk, Virginia, 'Sandy' was born to Edith Whitmire and Wavely M Groves Sr. and was lovingly raised by Helen Ruth Whitmire and Clarr Howard Weed Tietsort in Santee, California. At the young age of seventeen, she wed Richard Max Houk and soon gave birth to Richard Max Houk Jr. on July 15, 1965.

Possessing the rebellious heart of an adventurer, Sandy was pulled by the Counterculture Revolution to San Francisco, California where she resided on the corner of the infamous Haight and Ashbury streets. Following her unique ideals, Sandy played an integral part in this transformative time in American history. Due to the sacrifices that she and others like her made, we evolved as a nation with a better understanding of our fellow man. Though as the movement wound down, it left many of its participants behind and Sandy sought a new sanctuary for her ideals within religion.

However her longing for true freedom fought against the confines of an institutional identity and instead she wandered, finding solace in boat trips to the Colorado River, water skiing, music, and folk crafting. In 1999, she joined her son and mother in the mountains of Teton Valley, Idaho where she came to find the peace of a settled-soul and faced her death with courage, humor and the grace of an Angel.

She is survived by her father Wavely M Groves Sr. , her aunt Marie Brown, her brother Wavely M. Groves, her sisters Arlene Rossiter, Beverly Kane and April McRae, and her son, Richard Max Houk, Jr.

We would like to extend our gratitude to community of Teton Valley and The Hospice Alliance of Rexburg, Idaho whose gracious services allowed us to fulfill Sandy's last wish; to die at 'home'. We ask that any donations in Sandy's honor be directed to The Hospice Alliance or another such facility. Memorial services will be private.