Sarah Lou Levardsen (90), passed peacefully into the arms of Jesus, her Lord and Savior, on Thursday, June 22, 2023. Sarah Lou (Hill) Levardsen was born in rural Unionville, Missouri to Floyd and Myrtle (Steele) Hill.
In earlier times, when her first marriage ended, Sarah raised her four daughters as a single mom. Her daughters were her world, and she did what she could to keep a roof over their heads and food on the table. With the same strong resolve, she instilled a high level of determination and independence in her girls.
In 1984 she met Richard Levardsen at her church and they were married in Houston, Texas in 1985. Family was very important to her, and she loved them unconditionally. She always had an ear to listen, a shoulder to lean on, advice if we asked and an infectious laugh for all our mostly silly antics. When her daughters were grown her grandchildren and great-grandchildren became the lights of her life also. Her family will miss her quiet spirit, her ready smile and her out-stretched arms tremendously.
Throughout her life, Sarah worked diligently to create a warm and inviting home inside and out. When visiting you often found her tending to her beloved vegetable and flowers gardens. It was her outdoor sanctuary where she loved to spend her time. Her nurturing side was also extended to those around her. She had a giving nature and a tender heart. She was known to most as “the hugger”. She recognized the need in people to be touched and was known for her robust, loving hugs, which she gave indiscriminately to anyone who needed one. Family gatherings never ended without the group standing in line for goodbye hugs, spouses and grandchildren included.
Although she was soft spoken, she had a strong inner strength that was put to the test many times during her years. Most notably when she fought off breast cancer twice in her life. After her last bout with breast cancer and Richard’s passing, she moved to an independent senior living community where she extended her caring spirit to the other residents. She seemed to collect people everywhere she went. Mother enjoyed the comradery of social events, needlework, quiet times reading and her daily walks on the grounds of her complex (always with her dog Shelley until its passing).
Sarah had a strong faith and was at one time an active member of Second Baptist Church West Campus where she was a member of the Tie That Binds class, participated in numerous women’s bible studies, and became the official greeter (hugger) as members walked through the door. In 2007, she traveled to Israel to follow Jesus’ trail through the Holy Land. It was a trip of a lifetime for her and one she would always remember.
Sarah is survived by her four daughters and their spouses: Deborah (David) Stern, Sandra Cook, Julia (Terry) Vine and Deanna (Randy) Golden. She also leaves behind five wonderful grandchildren: Alex (Golden) & Michael Ratterree, Jacqueline Golden & Tyler Hunter, Nataly Cook, Beckett Vine and Addison Vine; and four great-grandchildren: Gaines and Quinn, Mila and Indy; and many nieces and nephews. Sarah has one surviving brother, Richard “Dick” Hill. She was preceded in death by her husband Richard; her parents; seven brothers and sisters: Albert Lee Hill, Hugh Edward Hill, George Raymond Hill, Max Hill, Julia Marilyn Elliott, Clifford Hill, Lois Lucille Cooke; her brothers-in-law Frank Elliott and George Cooke; her sisters-in-law Colleen Hill and Lois Hill; and a nephew, Dwight Hill.
A celebration of life will be held for Sarah and her sister Lois Cooke on Saturday, July 29th at the Putnam County Café and Resource Center in Unionville at noon.
Sarah will be interred alongside her husband, Richard, at the Houston National Cemetery, 10410 Veterans Memorial Drive, Houston, TX 77038 on August 11th at 10:30 a.m.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.earthmanbellaire.com for the Levardsen family.
