Sandra Miller Sasso

Mrs. Sandra Sasso, 67, of Almo, passed away peacefully on Sunday, October 30, 2022 at her home from a battle with cancer.

Sandy received a BFA in painting, printmaking, and art education in 1977 from the University of North Carolina, Greensboro. In 1980, she moved to Murray, KY to study painting in the Art Department’s Graduate Program at Murray State University. For her assistantship she was assigned the formative task of developing and programming a Crafts Shop to serve the community in the newly opened Curris Center. She received her Master of Arts in 1984.

From 1984-1989 Sandy introduced arts education to regional elementary schools thanks to a partnership with the Kentucky Arts Council. She was hired by the Calloway County School Board to teach art at North Elementary from 1994-2008. She then took the position as Art Instructor at the Calloway County High School from 2008-2015. She was very effective in establishing the idea of art as a serious and complex vocation, and her students responded by winning awards in competitions and scholarships to universities. Her students remember her empowering them to reach their full potential, reading them silly poetry, and providing a safe learning environment in which they could explore and express themselves. She exhibited her students work regionally and nationally and encouraged them to participate in regional workshops.

Sandy had boundless energy. She maintained a prestigious studio practice throughout her teaching career, producing an impressive body of artwork. She was recognized nationally and her work was exhibited in over 100 exhibitions and is included in many public and private collections. She was invited to teach at the Governors School for the Arts in Louisville, and to teach workshops at the Penland School of Arts in North Carolina and the Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts in Tennessee. She was the recipient of many grants, fellowships and awards.

Upon retirement in 2015, she continuing exhibiting her work, engaging in civics, became a Master Gardner, and served on the Board of the Murray Art Guild. To visit Sandy's work please visit www.sandymillersasso.com. 

Sandy was hands-on in every aspect of her life, including the design and construction of her home, gardens, and studio that she and her husband, Paul Sasso, referred to as Sassoville. Sandy loved her family very much. She was a devoted daughter, sister, wife, mother, mother-in-law, and had a very special relationship with her granddaughter, Margot.

She is preceded in death by her father, William Miller.

Those left to cherish many wonderful memories include her loving husband, Mr. Paul Sasso of Almo; daughter, Maggie Sasso-Jones and husband, Benjamin of Milwaukee, WI; her mother, Rose Fender Miller of Wake Forest, NC; brothers, Andy Frank Miller and wife, Alma of Brownsville, TX, Dale Clayton Miller and wife, Natalie of NC; her adored granddaughter, Margot as well as special nieces, Claudia and Rossina Miller, Stacey Metty and Stephanie Freyre.

Her family is planning a Celebration of Life ceremony in the Spring. Expressions of sympathy can be made to the Murray Art Guild, 500 North 4th Street, Murray, KY 42071, in her name.

Please join family and friends in honoring the life of Mrs. Sandra Sasso by visiting www.imesfh.com and posting your tributes and memories.

Imes Funeral Home is entrusted with caring for her family.