Sandra Louise Smith Underwood

Sandra Louise Smith Underwood Knoxville – Sandra Louise Smith Underwood, 82, of Knoxville, passed away peacefully Sunday, December 15, 2019 at Maple Court Senior Living. She was born on October 20, 1937 in Ames Iowa, the first child of Walter P. and Louise C. Smith, who predeceased her. Sandra moved to the new TVA town of Norris, Tennessee with her family when she was five years old, spending the first summer in a small cabin at Norris Lake State Park before moving into their first house on Pine Street. Sandy attended all twelve years of classes in the same building at Norris School (now the middle school), graduating in 1955. She attended the University of Tennessee in Knoxville until her marriage to Thomas R. Underwood, when she paused her education to become a full time homemaker and mom to her daughter Cathy and then also to her son David. She eventually returned to UT, working for the Dr. Dean Doak in the College of Education and achieving her Bachelor’s Degree, and later as a legal secretary for a local law firm. Sandy combined her love for “her mountains” and hiking, eventually covering many miles of the Appalachian Trail – including the southern terminus in Georgia as well as the White Mountains in New Hampshire. In 1983, Sandy set off by herself in a refurbished Volkswagen van, crossing the entire United States, coast to coast. She visited many state and national parks, stopping occasionally to do temporary office work through Kelly Girls in order to refill her dwindling travel budget. When she reached Seattle, Washington, she stored the vehicle and flew to Alaska – where she fell in love with the countryside and decided to stay. Sandy stayed in Alaska for fifteen years, taking annual “adventure” trips across the state. She went from the Alaskan Peninsula to the Arctic Ocean, hiking, camping, kayaking, and cross country skiing. She saw polar bears and walruses and seals, icebergs and volcanoes. She worked for the Alaska Housing Authority and served as regional president of the Professional Secretaries Association. She particularly enjoyed the business trips that took her across Alaska and also to the mainland for presentations to large, national gatherings. A life long birder, she volunteered for many projects with the Audubon Society as well as serving in different leadership positions with them. Upon her retirement, Sandy returned to the Lower 48, invested in a 19 foot Recreational Vehicle, joined a nation wide group of like-minded souls – “Loners On Wheels” – and set off on yet another adventure. Over the next five years, she criss crossed the nation, touching the borders in all four directions (twice), and thoroughly enjoying her independence. Once Sandy’s wanderlust was satisfied and she was ready to settle down, she returned to her beloved East Tennessee, buying first a condo and then achieving her lifelong dream of owning a little white house with a big yard. She chose Fountain City, close to her Norris roots and also close to her son and his family. Her last few years were difficult, but Sandy’s time was certainly made more comfortable and pleasant by the wonderful, caring staff at Maple Court. Her family sends out a special thanks to them all. Left to miss and remember their beloved Mom and Gran are her children, Cathy (Nancy), and David (Lisa), her grandchildren, Marshall, Sam and Wendy Underwood, her brother Steven Smith of Williamsburg, Virginia and her sister Marilyn(John) Neilans of Tellico Village, Tennessee, and all her nieces and nephews in Tennessee, South Carolina, Florida and Japan. The family will receive friends on Tuesday, December 17, 2019 from 6-8 PM in the parlors of Mynatt Funeral Home, Fountain City. A Graveside service will be held on Wednesday, December 18, 2019 at 2:00 PM in Norris Memorial Gardens. Mynatt Funeral Home, 2829 Rennoc Road, Fountain City, mynattfh.com is handling all arrangements, including a guest log in and Sandy’s story. . In lieu of flowers, the family would appreciate donations to SecondHarvestETN.org, where she volunteered for years. Note: Her journal, “Sandy’s Excellent Road Trip,” will soon be released on Amazon. Part of Sandy’s story is included in her sister’s novel, “Saying GoodBye to The Iris Lady,” available in paperback and Kindle on Amazon.com