Sandra Daniel Caler, age 80, passed from this life on Sunday, May 7, 2017. She was a Resident of Jones Care Center, Presbyterian Manor, Emporia, Kansas.
Sandi was born August 25, 1936, in Coffeyville, Kansas, the youngest of five children born to George Albert (Pat) Kauffman and Marion Isabelle (Richardson) Kauffman. Sandi was raised in Coffeyville, except for a short time that her family moved with Sinclair to Hammond, Indiana. She attended schools in Coffeyville, graduating with the class of 1954. She attended two years at Coffeyville Junior College, graduating in 1956 with an Associates Degree. Due to her high proficiency in shorthand and other office skills, she was hired immediately by the Veterans Administration in Wichita, Kansas.
Sandi was united in marriage to William Duane Daniel at the Coffeyville First Methodist Church on Dec. 23, 1956. To this union two children were born, Susan Kay Daniel in 1958 and William Duane Daniel, Jr. in 1961. Sandi was a loving mother and homemaker, a talented seamstress, secretary at her church, and volunteer with school and Girl Scouts and Cub Scouts. Sandi and Duane were divorced in 1974. She returned with her children to Coffeyville, where she worked at Funk Mfg.
Sandi married Floyd Atherton in 1977; they were later divorced. During this time she moved to Independence and began working at ARCO Pipeline Company, first in the secretarial pool, and then as Administrative Secretary in Health & Safety dept. Sandi retired from ARCO in 1993 when the company was reorganized.
In 1989 Sandi married a jewel of a man, Albert Caler. Together they shared many happy life events, travels, grandchildren, and service in community and church.
Sandi was baptized as an infant at the Methodist Church in Coffeyville. She was a member of United Methodist Churches in every community where the family lived—Manhattan, St. Louis, Overland Park, Centralia and Fulton, Mo., Grove, Ok., Coffeyville, Independence, Columbus, and Grace UMC in Emporia. For many years she was a member of First UMC, Independence, where she chaired several committees, and was active with local church and conference United Methodist Women and conference Trustees. During this time Sandi and Al were active with Habitat for Humanity of Montgomery County. She was the organizer of the Diabetes Support Group that met at Mercy Hospital for over 14 years. She was active with the Mercy Hospital Auxiliary, a Round Dance Club, Neewollah Campers, ARCO-Sinclair Retirees. She was a member of PEO, Chapter GT in Emporia, and a former member of Chapter V in Columbus.
Sandi was preceded in death by her husband, Albert R. Caler, step-son Dennis R. Caler, her parents, brothers George Kauffman and Robert Kauffman, and her sister Barbara Cheeseman, and by her first husband, Duane Daniel, Sr.
She is survived by her son, William ''Bill'' D. Daniel, Jr. of Griffin, Ga; daughter, Rev. Susan K. Daniel-Brey (Ed Brey) of Emporia; sister Arlene (Paul) Griffiths of Coffeyville; grandson, Robert (Leann) Daniel of Erie; granddaughter, Stephanie K. Brey, Emporia; great-granddaughter, Kimberly Daniel, Erie; cousins; many nieces and nephews; step-grandchildren, and their children and grandchildren.
Memorials are suggested to: FORPAZ (Friends of Riverside Park and Zoo), First United Methodist Church of Independence, Grace United Methodist Church of Emporia, Columbus United Methodist Church, or to the American Diabetes Society.
Services will be on Thursday, May 18, 2017 at 11 a.m. at First United Methodist Church, Independence, with the Rev. Earl Haggard officiating. Mrs. Caler's cremains will be inurned at Fairview Cemetery, Coffeyville, following the Celebration of Life Service. Visitation will be at Webb & Rodrick Funeral Home, Independence on Wednesday, May 17, from 7 to 8 p.m.