Sandra "Sandy" K. (Owens) Hinkston ,62, of Mendota and formerly of Troy Grove, passed away July 21,2015 in St. Francis Medical Center in Peoria with her family by her side.
Services will be at 11am Monday at Merritt Funeral Home , Mendota with the Rev. Dick "Ken" Schaill officiating. Burial will be at St. Vincents Cemetary, LaSalle.
Visitation will be 2-5pm Sunday at the funeral home.
Sandy was born April 6, 1953 in Long Beach, California. She married Perry Owens with whom she shared two children and later divorced. She then married Pete Hinkston on October 28,1995.
Sandy was a 1971 graduate of MHS. She and Perry had owned Sandy & Perry's Tap in Troy Grove for a short time. She had worked for many years at Motor Wheel in Mendota and also for Illinois Valley Drywall.

She belonged to The Mendota Church of the Nazarene where she was not only a member but also served on the board, cleaned the church, and helped with the Blastoff Children's Program. She also received the Nazarene Distinguished Service Award.

Sandy was one of a kind. She had a way with words which usually resulted in tears of laughter or blushing faces and rarely anything in between. She was a generous woman who would give a stranger the shirt off her back and never expect a thing in return. She chose to see the good in all people at times when no one else would. She made an impact on many lives and will be missed terribly. She was an amazing person. Sandy's final act of kindness was being an organ and tissue donor.

Sandy is survived by her husband and best friend Pete, her son, Brian (Lise) Owens of Princeton, and their children Darci Owens, Dylan Owens, Abby( Tim)
Smith, and Leslie Miller, her daughter Brandy(Tony) Ceja of Lamoille, and their children Patricio(Pat) Escatel Jr., Sylvia Escatel,and Laci Ceja, stepdaughter Julie(James) Duncan of LaSalle, stepson Brian (Jody Scott )Decker of Princeton, and their children Naomi Wilson, Amelia Scott, Courtlyn Decker, Devin Scott, Antonia Zimmerman, Melissa Decker, Sandy Decker, Jasen Clark, Rylan Decker, and Thomas Decker. Survivors also include her sister Linda(Butch Miller) Walzer of Mendota, her mother in law Dorothy Fessler,brothers and sisters in law and nieces and nephews and many friends. Sandy loved her entire family dearly but shared an undeniable bond with her grandson Pat Escatel Jr. Her eyes would light up every time she spoke of him.

She was preceded in death by her mother Marcella "Sally" Bunton, her nephew Toby Walzer, and former husband Perry Owens.

Pallbearers will be Brian Owens, Dylan Owens, Patricio(Pat) Escatel Jr, James Duncan, Eric Walzer, Brian Decker, Andrew Hiebing, and Cory Jenner. Honorary pallbearers will be Tony Ceja, Dalton Huftel, Sylvia Escatel, and Darci Owens.

Memorials may be directed to the family.