Sandy J. (Liley) Eastman

“Love people, cook them tasty food,” is probably the best way to sum up the life of the late Sandra Jean (Liley) Eastman.

Born August 1, 1963, to Lyndall and Daphine Liley, she was raised as a true-blue Jacksonian. After nearly a two-year battle with colorectal cancer, Sandy went to be with her Lord and Savior on June 16, 2019.

Sandy was a 1981 graduate of Jackson High School.  She attended college in Carbondale, Illinois and Huston, Texas, before returning home to the Jackson area.

Those who knew Sandy knew she had many joys in life: her relationships with God, her husband, Brent, and her three children; baking; and outdoor adventures.  Sandy met Brent Eastman in high school, but they would reconnect in the fall of 2015.  They were married October 26, 2016, at Fort A in Cape Girardeau, Missouri.

Brent and Sandy lived a lifetime in three years of marriage, taking bucket list trips to Monterey, Costa Rica, and Yosemite’s Half Dome to name a few. When they weren’t traveling the world together, Sandy worked as the first judicial assistant to Judge Stephen Limbaugh III, after his appointment to the federal courts. Sandy began working for Judge Limbaugh in the Fall of 2009, and previously worked for John Cook at Cook, Barkett, McGuire and Ponder Law Firm. She enjoyed close friendships with many of her coworkers at each office.  She enjoyed baking something for every occasion that occurred at the offices - birthdays, big case wins, and when out-of-area judges visited.

Sandy had a true servant’s heart.  She was a CASA volunteer and baked for the Baptist Student Union Sunday dinners on the campus of SEMO. She felt the best way to love people was to bake them tasty treats, and she spent a lifetime perfecting her craft. Many will recall her one-of-a-kind chocolate chip cookies, beautifully decorated sugar cookies, and perfectly moist chocolate cakes.

In addition to her husband, Brent, and parents, Lyndall and Daphine Liley, Sandy leaves three children, Clint Eastman, Madison (Scottie) Thomas, and Graeme Moore. Sandy believed her children were her greatest achievement in life, and she spent most of her free time at their sports practices, bragging about them, and taking special pride in making sure they never had a store bought cake for their birthdays (the HORROR of a store bought cake, you cannot imagine).

Sandy also leaves her sister, Lisa (Steve) Hanschen, a sister-in-law, Laura (the late Mike) Liley, and a brother, Rodney (Karen) Liley.

She was preceded in death by her eldest brother, Mike Liley.

Sandy’s family invites friends to a memorial gathering from 5 to 8 p.m., Saturday, August 3, 2019, at the lower level of the Cape Elks Lodge.  Refreshments will be provided.  

Memorials may take the form of contributions to Siteman Cancer Center, c/o The Foundation for Barnes Jewish Hospital, 1001 Highlands Plaza Drive West, Suite 140, St. Louis, Missouri 63110-1337.

Cremation was accorded by McCombs Funeral Home in Cape Girardeau.

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