1948
Cathleen
2024
Cathleen Straton Sandidge
September 10, 1948 — February 4, 2024
Rev. Cathleen (Cathy) Straton Sandidge was born to Rev. Warren and Eileen Straton on Friday, September 10, 1948 in Atlantic City, New Jersey where Warren pastored a church at the time. During high school, she was an active member of her youth group at Central Assembly and graduated from Glendale High School in Springfield, Missouri.
She then attended and graduated from Oral Roberts University with a Bachelor of Arts in Humanities having been a cheerleader for the University's basketball team and having traveled to and spoken at Oral's crusades as a student ambassador for the University. She also had the honor and privilege of being mentored by Oral and Evelyn Roberts and the opportunity to pray for the sick alongside Oral Roberts at these crusades.
She went on to earn a Masters degree in Art Education from the elite Colorado College and later founded the Art Department at El Paso Community College (now known as Pikes Peak Community College) in Colorado Springs, Colorado. While living in Colorado Springs, she also started a citywide inter-denominational weekly women's Bible study for hundreds of women from different churches in the city that met at First Presbyterian Church, led women in prayer and intercession for the city, and became the first female to have a book, "The Life and Times of Jesus Christ" Bible study guide, published by The Navigators.
Later in life she returned to work at Oral Roberts University in Tulsa, Oklahoma and led the Development Department engaging donors and alumni in giving back to the University. With her combined expertise and experience in Art, Humanities, and Donor Development, she was recruited to design and lead the installation of the International Missions Memorial Museum and Gardens in Tulsa, Oklahoma where she worked with owners of rare Christian artifacts to have their items displayed in a unique walk-through experience for public viewing and engagement.
Following in the footsteps of five generations before her, she went on to be ordained into ministry. While called on throughout her life to preach, teach, and speak, later in the life, she had the privilege of ministering in Asia, as had her world-renowned grandfather Rev. Dr. Harvey McAlister (who had been to the Azusa Street Revival in the early 1900's), and to preach at the famous Angelus Temple in Los Angeles, California that was founded by Aimee Semple McPherson and whom another of Cathy's nationally known grandfather's, Rev. Dr. John Roach Straton (known as "The Fundamentalist Pope"), had corresponded and preached in favor of during the 1920's.
All her life, Cathy was known for her walk with Jesus, for her love and knowledge of scripture, and for carrying on her family's multi-generational legacy of serving the Lord.
Cathy is survived by her husband, Carl LeRoy Sandidge, her sister, Georgia Paul, and her four brothers, Bob Straton, Harvey Straton, Doug Straton, and John Carter Straton. Additionally, Cathy's legacy lives on in her son, Dr. Blake McLaughlin, and her daughter, Julia Eileen McLaughlin, as well as through her four grandchildren, Blake and, his wife, Sara's children: Harrison, Ethan, Sophia, and Olivia (Livy).
Ultimately, Cathy's life and home-going certainly embodied the verse:
"...to live is Christ... to die is gain....."
Philippians 1:21
A celebration of Cathleen's life will be held 10:00am, Monday, February 12, 2024 at Schaudt's Tulsa Funeral Service Chapel, 5757 South Memorial Drive, Tulsa, Oklahoma 74145.
Arrangements are entrusted to Schaudt's Tulsa Funeral Service, 5757 South Memorial Drive, Tulsa, Oklahoma 74145. Family and friends are invited to leave kind words of comfort, share special memories, and offer condolences to the family online at www.schaudtfuneralservice.com.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Cathleen Straton Sandidge, please visit our flower store.
Service Schedule
Past Services
Celebration of Life
Monday, February 12, 2024
10:00 - 11:00 am (Central time)
Schaudt's Tulsa Funeral Service Chapel
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