of Memphis, TN

May 26, 1946 - October 25, 2023

Lucy Elizabeth (Von Kanel) Sands, 77, of Memphis, TN died peacefully on October 25, 2023 from ovarian cancer, a disease she had bravely fought six times in the last nine years.

Lucy was born in Helena, Arkansas and graduated from Helena's Central High School. She earned her nursing degree from St. Joseph Hospital School of Nursing in 1967 and practiced as a registered nurse in Tunica, Mississippi until the birth of her daughter in 1972. A devoted mother and active member of her community, Lucy was a long-time Girl Scout leader, Sunday School teacher and school volunteer. She later opened Latham's, a clothing and gift store which she ran for almost twenty years. After closing Latham's, Lucy became a bank teller with First Security Bank and eventually relocated from Tunica to Hernando, Mississippi.

Over the years, Lucy enjoyed a wide range of hobbies such as woodworking, crafting, sewing, gardening and seasonal decorating, but her absolute favorite activity was spending time with her granddaughter.

In early 2018, Lucy retired and moved to Memphis to be closer to her beloved granddaughter. During her time in Memphis, Lucy loved being a resident of Town Village Audubon Park, an independent living community, where she enjoyed spending time with friends, dancing and serving on the new resident welcome committee. Lucy spent her final months at The Brightmore of East Memphis' Memory Care facility where she quickly endeared herself to the nurses and staff.

Lucy was an incredibly vibrant and cheerful woman. She always had a smile on her beautiful face and a tube of Pink Peony lipstick close at hand. With her kind, caring and fun-loving nature, Lucy never met a stranger and made everyone she met feel special. Her strength and ability to maintain a positive attitude in the face of adversity and illness was amazing to witness and helped those around her remain strong and optimistic as well.

Lucy was preceded in death by her parents, Sam Von Kanel and Floy Von Kanel Polk; her brothers, Samuel "Bo" Von Kanel and Clifford "Cooter" Von Kanel and friend, Carroll Ward. She is survived by her daughter, Kim Sands Coggin (Jay); her granddaughter, Lilly Coggin; ex-husband, Richard Sands and friend, Orville Lonvick.

Visitation will be held on Saturday, November 4, 2023 at Christ the King Lutheran Church, 5296 Park Ave., Memphis, TN 38119 at 10:00 a.m. with a funeral service to follow at 11:00 a.m. Lucy loved color, so the family encourages everyone attending the funeral to wear something colorful in celebration of her life (purple, turquoise, teal, blue and pink were her favorites!).

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that memorials be made in Lucy's name to the Sally Tillmanns Ovarian Cancer Research Fund c/o the West Cancer Foundation, P.O. Box 382638, Germantown, TN, 38183-2638 or online at westcancerfoundation.org. The Sally Tillmans Ovarian Cancer Research Fund was founded by Lucy's wonderful oncologist, Dr. Todd Tillmans in honor of his own mother who also passed away from ovarian cancer. Your gift to the Fund will support medical research designed to find new drugs and therapies to better treat and hopefully cure ovarian cancer.

Obituary Provided By:
Roller-Citizens Funeral Home
201 North Pine Street
West Memphis, AR  72303
www.rollerfuneralhomes.com