Sandra Kay Salling

Sandra Salling born in Whitesboro, TX on April 28, 1946, left this life peacefully on February 7, 2021. She was with her beloved daughter Deidre and life partner of 32 years, Kathryn Everest, as she drew her last breath before joining the Lord's Heavenly Angel Band. Sandra is preceded in death by her father and mother, Ralph Louis Salling and Odessa Guess Salling, her brother David Ralph Salling, brother-in-law Alan Dale Everest, beloved brother-in-law Jimmie Don Carney and life-long best friend, Doyle Glenmore Dobbins, Deidre's Daddy. If you knew Sandra, you loved Sandra. She was an entertainer at heart, full of talent and enough country charm to beat the band, literally. She began singing at the age of 6 when she learned to play the piano. She sang with the Red Gordon Trio, had a weekly spot on the Red Gordon Radio Show and later a spot on a local TV show. As a teenager Sandra sang at the Big D Jamboree in Dallas, Texas on the same stage with headliners like Willie Nelson, Patsy Cline, George Jones, and many others. When Patsy Cline heard her sing, Patsy told Sandra, "I'm sure glad you are young because I don't need any more competition!" She was the girl singer with a band appearing at The Reveller on lower Greenville in Dallas, TX singing for the bar located on the corner of University Avenue owned by Dallas Cowboys quarterback Don Meredith and country songwriter Ray Winkler. Eddie McDuff and Mr. Winkler adored Sandra and she sang on Winkler's album covering one of his songs and singing two originals. McDuff penned “Hello Trouble” and Winkler - Welcome to “My World.” Sandra married Doyle Dobbins in 1966, and they have a beautiful daughter, Deidre Salling Dobbins. Doyle taught Sandra to fly, and she earned her pilot's license flying aircraft with Doyle for the purpose of delivering aircraft to customers or moving planes from one base of operation to another for maintenance, repair, and operations. The love shared between these parents with their one and only child was extraordinary. Sandra always said, “When you get it perfect the first time, why do it again?” They shared all important milestones with Deidre. Starting in 1989, Sandra and Kathryn made many road trips to Tarleton State University to be with Deidre and her college friends. Sandra was the life of the party there, too. Good times and memories. To Sandra, there was nothing like the birth of her two amazing grandsons Parker Dobbins Shaha in 1999 and Jackson Dobbins Shaha in 2002, who, after Deidre, were the light of Sandra's life. Music, hunting, playing with her kids, traveling and of course great intellectual conversation were just some of Sandra's interests. She attended her boys sporting events faithfully. She worked incredibly hard to provide for her family and made time for family and friends as the favorite Moma, Mam-ma, Seester, Aunt and friend. Although Sandra was all about family, including her sister Doris and brother-in-law Don Carney, brothers Tom, Alan, Andy, their families, all the nieces and nephews, great nieces, and nephews from Texas to California, she was the Quarter Fairy who delighted all children who stopped by the house to see her. The mischievous gleam in her eye let you know she related best to the lighthearted and loved to view the world through the eyes of a child. She had such a childlike spirit outside of work. Professionally, Sandra Salling was an astute businesswoman. She started International Tours Park Plaza in Fort Worth, Texas securing clients like Pier 1 and Marvin Girouard. Quite an accomplishment as a female business owner back in the day. Fort Worth Business Press deemed ITPP the fastest growing travel agency of the year. She loved to say, “I get paid to tell people where to go!” She was all things country and all things classy depending on the setting. “I'm just a little country girl trying to make a living!”, and what a living it was. She headlined a benefit at the Caravan of Dreams for the Fort Worth Jazz Ensemble while she went on to become the Chief Operating Officer of World Travel Partners in Dallas and retired early. Sandra was remarkable. To her, integrity was everything. After retirement, she learned all about the workings of the computer on her own and became “Old Lady Tech” working on computers out of the house as well as working for e-Strategies and Digital Wave assisting other companies with computer needs. Who gives their employee blank checks to pay themselves or keys to their building? When dealing with Sandra – you knew without doubt she could be trusted – and they did. Life is way too short, but Sandra put a song in the heart of everyone who knew her. We love this lady's free spirit. She was never afraid to say what she thought - to tell it like it is. She has always made us laugh and has always had sarcastic and funny things to add to any conversation. We all love Sandra and the songs she sang – of course as she was the Queen of guitar pickin' and grinnin' and appeared in many Texas Opry's. Her Back Porch Band provided hours of music and fun for all of us, but we love this songbird most for her generous and loving heart and her sense of humor. Sandra Salling was authentic in every way. --- Simply the BEST!