Helen Sandlin

MORTON – Helen L. Sandlin, 96, of Morton, passed away Thursday, March 9, 2023, at Aperion Care Morton Villa, surrounded by her family.

She was born February 21, 1927, in Berdan, Ill., to Louis and Caroline (Hartman) Graham. Helen married James Sandlin on May 15, 1948, in Peoria. He preceded her in death on December 17, 1985. She was also preceded in death by her son, Bernard Sandlin; one brother and one sister.

Surviving are her daughters, Peggy (David) Sellars of Morton and Patty Hays of Los Angles, Calif.; four grandchildren, Nicole Sandlin of Minneapolis, Minn., Katie Sandlin of Minneapolis, Minn., Caroline (Derrick) Ellis of Brownsburg, Ind. and Christine Sellars (Gretchen Dabbs, Ph.D.) of Muphysboro, Ill.; four great grandchildren, Owen, Eileen, Leo and Lucy; nephew, David (Muriel) Graham of Washington, Ill.; great niece and great nephews, Joshua Graham of Seattle, Wash., Kathleen (Dave) Jacobs of Crystal Lake, Ill. and Brian Graham of Austin, Texas; and several other nieces and nephews.

Helen was a 1944 graduate of East Peoria High School. She worked at K-Mart in Morton for ten years.

Helen served as a leader of TOPS in Morton and Recovery Inc. in Peoria. She and her husband were long time members of Whirl-A-Way Square Dance Club in Morton. Helen was an avid bird-watcher, quilter and St. Louis Cardinal fan.

A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, March 25, 2023, at Knapp-Johnson Funeral Home and Cremation Center in Morton. Visitation will be held from 10 to 11 a.m. on Saturday, prior to the service at the funeral home. Burial will be at Fondulac Cemetery in East Peoria.

Memorials may be made to Tazewell Animal Protective Society in Pekin.

Knapp-Johnson Funeral Home and Cremation Center in Morton is handling arrangements.

To leave an online condolence for the family, visit www.knappjohnson.com.