SPARTA – Sandy L. Laurent, 69, of Sparta passed away at 7:16 PM, Sunday, February 16, 2020, at the Memorial Hospital in Belleville, Illinois.

Sandy was born on September 13, 1950, in DuQuoin, the daughter of Miles A. and LaRaine (Bardle) Nixon. She married Michael D. Laurent on June 24, 1972, at the St. Joseph Catholic Church in Prairie duRocher, Illinois. Sandy was retired from Sparta Animal Clinic, and a member of Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church, Sparta. Sandy loved to sew, quilt, animals, flowers, gardening, and loved people, and her family and grandbaby.

Sandy is survived by her husband; Michael D. Laurent, of Sparta, 2 sons; Christopher Laurent, of St. Louis, Missouri, Robert Laurent, of Farmington, Missouri, 1 grandchild; Caroline, mother-in-law; Doris Eggemeyer, of Red Bud, 1 sister; Candy (Loren) Smith, of Ava, 4 sister-in-laws; Sharon (Patrick) Mudd, of Stanley, NC, Janet (Donald) Wrobel, of Slidell, LA, Jeanie (Emory) Hodges, of Willow Park, TX, Linda Rickenberg, of Steeleville, 3 brother-in-laws; Joseph (Angelica) Laurent, of The Colony, TX, Terry (Tammy) Laurent, of Ruma, Steven Laurent, of Ruma.

Mrs. Laurent was preceded in death by her parents, 1 brother; Randy Nixon, father-in-law; Robert J. Laurent, and brother-in-law; Morris Rickenberg.

Funeral mass will be held at 10 AM, Thursday, February 20, 2020, at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church, Sparta, with Father Vincent Mukasa officiating, burial will follow at the Caledonia Cemetery, Sparta. Visitation will be held on Wednesday evening at the Wilson's Funeral Home in Steeleville where friends may call from 5 to 8 PM, with a Rosary being held at 7:30 PM, and then on Thursday from 7:30 until 9:30 AM at the funeral home. Memorials may be made to the Masses or Randolph County Humane Society.