Sandra Aileen Dillon

Sandra Aileen Dillon, 64, died Sept. 1, 2011, at her home in Palmer.

Sandra was born to Charles and Aileen Taylor on Aug. 13, 1947, in Davenport, Wash. She graduated from Davenport High School in 1965 and attended Eastern Washington University in Cheney, Wash., where she obtained certification as a paralegal and worked in the field until moving to Alaska.

Sandra moved to Palmer in 1988 to join the love of her life, Michael Dillon. They married Dec. 28, 1990. She and Michael enjoyed quiet mornings spent drinking coffee together and salmon fishing trips with their friends. Most summer afternoons she could be found working in her flowerbeds or reading a good book for her book club. Sandra greatly enjoyed spending time with friends and family.

Sandra was an incredible mother and grandmother, and she cherished the times spent visiting her grandson, Caden, whom she was teaching to sew and to play the piano. After each visit with Caden, she would make a scrapbook for him to remember their special activities. She was especially excited about the upcoming birth of her twin grandbabies at the end of September.

Sandra was a true artisan and she had a passion for weaving, sewing, quilting and gardening. She was a modest person, but was an absolute perfectionist in all aspects of her life. She won many awards for her creations and, most recently, her weaving entry took the blue ribbon and division award at the Alaska State Fair.

In 1990, Sandra began working for the Mat-Su Borough, starting in the Borough Attorney’s Office. In 1995, she was appointed borough clerk, where her talents truly showed. Sandra was dedicated to serving the Mat-Su Borough and served on many committees for the Alaska Municipal League and was especially involved with the Local Government and Education Committee. In 2002, she was chosen as the Municipal Employee of the Year for the AML. She was a member of the National Association of Parliamentarians and the American Institute of Parliamentarians. She taught Alaska government, parliamentary procedures and effective meeting tips to the officials elected throughout the state and in other cities and boroughs. Even after her retirement, she continued to provide seminars on effective meetings and parliamentary procedures.

She was a very active member of the Alaska Association of Municipal Clerks and served as the group’s president from 1999 to 2001. Sandra was committed to education for new clerks and continuing education for seasoned clerks. She served on numerous committees and held a variety of leadership positions, including the Certified Municipal Clerk designation through the International Institute of Municipal Clerks. In 2003, she was awarded the Municipal Clerk of the Year, AAMC’s highest honor, which showed her dedication to the profession of the municipal clerk.

Sandra is survived by her loving husband, Michael Dillon; daughter, Ronna (Clancy) Statz and son-in-law Michael Statz of Livermore Calif.; grandchildren, Caden Emry and twin boys due at the end of September; her mother, Aileen Taylor of Chewelah, Wash.; and brothers, Bruce Taylor of Albion, Wash., and Scott Taylor (Diane Taylor) of East Wenatchee, Wash.

A public viewing is at 4:30 p.m., Sept. 9, at St. Michael’s Catholic Church, 432 East Fireweed Ave, Palmer. A funeral mass is at 5 p.m., with a reception to follow.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Alaska Association of Municipal Clerks in which a scholarship fund in Sandra’s name will provide continuing education for municipal clerks. Donations may be made payable to the Alaska Association of Municipal Clerks and mailed to: AAMC c/o Alaska Municipal League, 217 Second Street, Suite 200, Juneau, AK 99801.

Arrangements were entrusted to Kehl’s Palmer Legacy Funeral Home.