The Life of Sandra Elaine Bolleter
Funeral services will be held on Friday, March 16, 2012, at 11:00 AM in La Chapelle de Martin & Castille in Lafayette, for Sandra Elaine Reed Bolleter, age 78, who died at her home surrounded by her loving family. Sandra was born in Timpson Texas in Shelby County on April 22, 1933.
She was the first child of Louise Guin Reed and Odis Archie Reed, granddaughter of John A. Reed and Ida C. Weldon Reed and Allen J. Guin and Ida A. Hall Guin, all of Beauregard Parish, LA. She lived in Merryville, Elizabeth, then Oakdale, LA before moving with her family to Clarksdale, MS in 1939.
Her family later moved to Lafayette in 1943, where she attended Lafayette Central Grammar School and Myrtle Place Elementary, then Lafayette High School. Throughout those years she followed her passion for music as a student of voice and piano. She sang in a trio with her mother and sister, called by Lafayette entertainers, the "Reed Sisters". She graduated from Lafayette High School in May 1951, and by 1953, she had given birth to her two children, Nedra Louise Voorhies and Nicholas Reed Voorhies. By 1965, she met and married her second husband, Vernon Bolleter, and with her two children moved to Houston, Texas.
Vernon pursued his career with Tenneco Oil Company as chief geologist and Vice-President of Exploration with Sandra at his side. When not busy with his career, Sandra and Vernon enjoyed the outdoors and were adventurous, hunting and fishing where possible, or pursuing travel. In her "down time", Sandra could be found working on her other interest, gardening outside, or needlepoint inside. Much of her needlepoint work consisted of original Christmas stockings for her grandchildren and great grandchildren, with her remaining talent spent on works as pillows and wall hangings. But always, her love of animals was present with her Yorkshire terriers, or beloved "Pauper", a Shelty that was her constant companion.
Sandra was active in civic and community affairs, volunteering at the Tuberculosis Center in Lafayette, participating in her children's school activities, and then as a member of the Junior League Of Houston. Upon moving back to Lafayette in 1993, she became a sustaining member of the Junior League of Lafayette.
Sandra was preceded in death by her parents, Louise Guin Reed and Odis Archie Reed; her sister, Nedra Reed Andrus; and her son, Nicholas Reed Voorhies.
She is survived by her devoted husband of 47 years, Vernon Thomas Bolleter; her daughter, Rev. Dr. Nedra Louise Voorhies, and her husband, Rev. Dr. Donald D. Denton; her daughter Cindy Bolleter Bujnoch, and her husband, Roman Frank Bujnoch; her son, Jim Mason Bolleter, and his wife, Debbie Taylor Bolleter; her grandson, David Paul Voorhies, and his wife, Pam Voorhies; her grandsons, Matthew Thomas Fossett, Alexander Mason Vest, Michael Mason Bolleter and Tyler James Bolleter; her granddaughter, Courtney Elaine Williams, and her husband, Travis Williams; her great granddaughter, Mayson Renea Fossett; and her lifelong friend and brother-in-law, Dwight Andrus, Jr.
Pallbearers are David Paul Voorhies, Michael M. Bolleter, Dwight W. Andrus IV, Adam Reed Andrus, Caleb Eads Andrus, William Kyle Braniff, and Steven Mitchell Ashy.
Honorary Pallbearers are Travis Williams, Alexander M. Vest and Hunter Todd Babin.
The family requests that visitation be observed in Martin & Castille's DOWNTOWN Lafayette location on Thursday, March 15, 2012 from 3:00 PM to 8:00 PM and Friday, March 16, 2012 from 9:00 AM until time of service, to be held at the funeral home. Funeral Services will be conducted by Rev. Dr. Donald Denton. Interment will follow in Lafayette Memorial Park.
The family would like to express their gratitude to Dr. Juan C. Ziek, M.D. and Dr. Jon D. Leleux, M.D. for the outstanding care provided to Sandra. The family would also like to give special thanks to her primary caregivers, Pernella and Marilyn.
Donations can be made in memory of Sandra Reed Bolleter to Hospice of Acadiana, 2600 Johnston St., Suite 200, Lafayette, LA 70503 or on their website at www.HospiceAcadiana.com.
Martin & Castille-DOWNTOWN-330 St. Landry St., Lafayette, LA 70506, 337-234-2311
