Sandra "Sandy" Ann Cotton

Sandra “Sandy” Ann Cotton, 56, centered her life around family and friends. Born on January 30, 1969, in Poughkeepsie, New York, she grew up in Lagrangeville and graduated from Arlington High School in 1987. She continued her education at SUNY Binghamton, earning a degree in Management Information Systems in 1991.

That same year, Sandy met Neil Cotton when they both began working at the U.S. Census Bureau on the very same day. They married on June 8, 1996.

They welcomed their first child, Cameron, in 1998. After the birth of their second child Alyssa in 2000, Sandy chose to step away from her career to dedicate herself fully to raising their family—a role she embraced with unmatched devotion and grace. In 2004, their daughter Victoria was born, and the family relocated from Virginia to Texas in 2007. From serving as a Girl Scout troop leader to being a tireless band mom with the Lake Travis High School marching band, Sandy poured her heart into every activity her children loved. Her children were her greatest pride and joy.

Sandy had a creative soul and a generous heart. She loved scrapbooking cherished memories, traveling—especially to Disney World and the beach—and enjoying a good Stephen King novel. Music was a constant companion, from concerts with friends to listening to live music on date nights. She embraced life with humor, joy, and an adventurous spirit. Her kindness and quiet strength left a lasting impression on everyone fortunate enough to know her.

Sandy is survived by her loving husband, Neil Cotton; her son, Cameron (Gloria); her daughters, Alyssa and Victoria; her parents, Robert and Annegrete Sargent; her brothers, Jim (Karen) and Jeff (Gena) Sargent; her nieces and nephews, Kyle, Julie, Chase, Nadine, Thalia, Sydney, Tristan, Easton, Caeden, Jocelyn, Nicholas, Joshua, Elizabeth, Xander, Cambridge and Winston; and her beloved dog, Boo. She is remembered with love by extended family, close friends, and all those whose lives she touched.

A celebration of Sandy’s life will be held on September 20, 2025, in Wilmington, North Carolina, at Andrew’s Valley Chapel.

In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests that donations be made in Sandy’s memory to the American Heart Association.