Sondra Marie Stamey

Sondra Marie Stamey, 67, passed away on Saturday, October 23rd 2021, at Emerald Ridge Care Center in Asheville, NC. A native of Asheville, Sondra worked for many years serving children with developmental disabilities while also pursuing a love of dance, training with a local dance company and performing with the Asheville Civic Ballet. A mother of three, with their father David Sluder of Asheville, Sondra obtained her GED at the age of 37 to enroll in Meredith College. She graduated in 1995 with a double Bachelor’s in Modern Dance and Religious Studies, launching her career as a dance educator and choreographer for youth and young children in addition to helping adult women connect to their bodies and life stories through creative movement and spoken word. Before the early onset of Alzheimer’s disease, Sondra split her time between managing a test proctoring center and teaching dance in the community. Sondra loved reading, most especially the southern fiction of Lee Smith and the contemplative writings of Trappist monk Thomas Merton. She enjoyed going for walks at the Biltmore Estate and attending services at All Souls Cathedral. All whose lives Sondra touched were fond of her open-heartedness, her animated sense of humor, and her vibrant spirit. During her time living with dementia, Sondra was never deprived of her social-butterfly nature, her love of ice cream, her easy laugh, her affection for her children, and her dancing feet. Sondra is preceded in death by her mother Myrtle Stamey, her father William Stamey, and her beloved dog Audrey. Sondra is continued through her children Gene Sluder, Jenne Sluder, and Jessica Kerr, as well as her grandchildren Wesley and Hunter. In the interest of safety due to Covid-19, Sondra’s in-person memorial service will be limited to close friends and family. However, all are invited to attend Sondra’s online memorial service on Tuesday November 9th at 7pm, held over Zoom, which will feature a slide show and footage of Sondra’s autobiographical dance performance at Meredith College. Those interested in attending the online memorial, or receiving a recording of it, should please contact Sondra’s daughter Jenne for the access link: info@jennesluder.com

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