Sandra Kaye Kershaw, 75, of Hillsboro, died at her home, surrounded by her adoring family, on Wednesday, June 18, 2025.
Visitation will be held from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. at Calvary Baptist Church in Hillsboro, on Tuesday, June 24. A funeral service officiated by the Rev. Mike Plummer will follow at 12 p.m. at the church. Burial will follow at Cress Hill Cemetery in Hillsboro.
Mrs. Kershaw was born on Sept. 8, 1950, in St. Louis, MO, to Bedford and Frances (O’Keefe) Billington. She was raised in Montgomery County, attending Hillsboro schools in her youth. While in Hillsboro High School, she met and married a young man named Marvin Kershaw on Nov. 28, 1968, at the First Baptist Church in Hillsboro. They spent 56 wonderful years together. He survives.
She enjoyed being a stay-at-home mom while her children were young, taking them to Six Flags and on canoe trips, spending long summer days at the city pool and being ever-present in their lives. She loved to travel, especially spending time in Branson. She worked for Hurst-Rosche Engineers for 24 years. Church and faith have always been an important part of her life. She was an active member of Calvary Baptist Church, and also working as secretary for them. She enjoyed volunteering at the Crisis Pregnancy center and was a passionate supporter of the Right to Life.Her warmth radiated from her. She had the unique ability to make everyone feel welcomed, cherished and deeply loved. She was not just a wife, mother and grandmother; she was a constant presence at competitions, tournaments, birthdays and family gatherings. Her mischievous sense of humor and love for pranks made it fun to be around her.
Mrs. Kershaw was an extraordinary cook and baker. Her family’s favorites were her apple pie, red velvet cake, pretzel salad and taco salad. She made beautiful wedding cakes for friends and family. At Christmastime, her favorite time of year, she would hand make stockings and sew beautiful baby quilts for her grandchildren, knowing that each stitch was made with love. She even wrote personalized lullabies for each of them. At Halloween, the whole town made sure to stop at her house for one of her famous popcorn balls.
In addition to her husband, she is survived by her sons, Brian (Michele) Kershaw and Chad Kershaw of Hillsboro; daughter, Becky (David) Michl of Robinson; grandchildren, Brennon (Jena) Kershaw of Hillsboro, Shaye (Todd) Easton of Springfield, Mitchell (Bailey) Kent of Wichita, KS, Mallory (Sam) Richard of Flat Rock, Morgen (Naomi) Kent of Flat Rock, Wyatt Kershaw of Coffeen, Manning (Jerra) Kent of Palestine, IL, Marshall (Mara) Kent of Robinson, Grady and Elijah Michl of Robinson, Kaylee Kershaw of Hillsboro and Kaylee Brittain of Witt; fourteen great-grandchildren and three more on the way; siblings, Connie (Larry) Shryock of Coffeen, Deana (Tommy) Moroney of Hillsboro, Joan Lovell of Jerseyville, Dan (Cindy) Billington of Tennessee, David (Sandy) Billington of Godfrey and Jeff (Vicki) Billington of Hillsboro.
She was preceded in death by her parents and a sister, Denise Knetzer.
Memorial donations may be made in Mrs. Kershaw’s honor to Lighthouse Pregnancy and Health Services, 214 South Main Street, Suite A, Hillsboro, IL, 62049 or to the Montgomery County Cancer Association, 106 Pinnacle Point Drive, Hillsboro, IL, 62049.
