Alta Faye “Sandi” Walter

Alta Faye “Sandi” Walter of Gatesville passed away peacefully at home with her beloved husband Cecil Ray at her side surrounded by her family Saturday, May 27, 2023 at the age of 72. She was ushered into heaven by a white dove representing the Holy Spirit that her grandsons had found on the ranch that evening.

Celebration of Life: 2PM, Saturday, June 10 at Lake Shore Funeral Home with Reverend Crenshaw officiating.

Mrs. Walter was born May 18, 1951 in Mexia. She was the fourth child of Willard Franklin Evans and Edith Estelle Bradshaw and one of two to survive childbirth. The third child preceding her would eventually pass due to trauma from childbirth.

Education was an integral part of Sandi’s life. She received her early education at Forest Glade Elementary in Mexia where she made many lifelong friends. She graduated from West High School. During this time, she met the love of her life, Cecil Ray Walter. On June 7, 1969, they married and celebrated 54 years of marriage leaving a legacy of love and the power of commitment for their children and grandchildren to witness.

Education was an important piece of Sandi’s life and legacy. Sandi attended McLennan Community College after the birth of her two oldest children, earning two associate degrees. She would go on to achieve numerous degrees with her latest being the completion of a Post-Master’s Gerontological Nurse Practitioner Program at The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston (2002). Her earlier achievements include the following degrees: an Associate in Applied Science Nursing (1982), an Associate in Arts (1986) both at McLennan Community College, a Bachelor of Science in Nursing at The University of Texas in Arlington (1987), a Master of Science in Nursing at The University of Texas in Austin (1993).

Over the years she worked as a Labor and Delivery and an ICU Nurse at Hillcrest Hospital in Waco. She furthered her career by achieving an Instructor of Nursing position at McLennan Community where she touched so many lives leaving a legacy of love for nursing and caring for others. During her courageous battle with breast cancer, we interacted with numerous nurses that she had taught; one being a mother/daughter team that she had taught both over the course of decades. Sandi feared that all her knowledge of nursing would end with her, but she leaves a wealth of knowledge with so many that will follow in her footsteps.

Sandi helped to pioneer the path for Nurse Practitioners. She was featured in many articles and publications. She was one of the first female Nurse Practitioners to open their own medical clinic, Central Park Clinic, serving Waco Geriatric Patients from 2006- March of 2023.

Sandi enjoyed the simple things and was always spending time with her family, grandchildren, and her many puppies. She loved to cook, bake, garden, and be outside as much as possible. She loved the ranch life, and it was her dream to own land and a lot of tractors, which she did at Two Hawks Ranch in Gatesville.

Preceded in death were her parents, Willard Franklin Evans and Edith Estelle Bradshaw; and three sisters, Melba Jane Evans, Delores Ann Evans and Mary Janice Evans.

Survivors include husband, Cecil Ray Walter of Gatesville; children, Michael Ray Walter of Dubai, Shelley Anntanette Beesley and husband Thomas Rutledge of Liberty Hill, Penny Marie Walter-Kolar and husband Chad Raymond of Leroy; nine grandchildren, Sadara Green, Makinsey Beesley-Bolden and husband Seth Paul, Breanna Beesley, Cade Beesley, Adrian Bustillos, Jacob Bustillos, Kane Kolar, Kanon Kolar; and one great-grandchild, Branson Bolden.

Place of Service: Lake Shore Funeral Home Chapel , 5201 Steinbeck Bend; Waco, TX 76708