of Little Rock, AR

April 8, 1945 - August 26, 2025

Sandra Kay (Douglas) Dannaway died peacefully on August 26 after a lengthy illness. She was born on April 8, 1945, in Columbus, MS, the only child of P.L. and Alleen Douglas. She grew up in Starkville, MS, graduating from Starkville High School in 1963. In high school, she was a majorette and bass clarinetist with the SHS band, editor-in-chief of the yearbook, and member of the National Honor Society and Quill and Scroll.

She attended the Universities of Mississippi and Colorado and graduated from Mississippi State University with a degree in speech and history. She was a member of Phi Mu sorority and the collegiate debate team. She earned a second undergraduate degree in education and social studies at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. She later completed a Master of Arts degree in criminal justice from UALR.

After stints as a teacher in Atlanta, Georgia, and Little Rock, she began working in the registrar's office at UALR. Over the next three decades, she rose to become the director of that office, mentoring several young staff members and assisting hundreds of students. After retiring, she dedicated herself to improving the lives of families of children with autism spectrum disorder, culminating in her role as a board member of the Tyler Dannaway Foundation. She continued her advocacy despite her cancer diagnoses and served as an inspiration to all who knew her.

Despite her successes in those fields, she considered motherhood as her primary calling in life. In this capacity, she served as a paradigm of maternal grace. Friends of hers were known to comment that should they be reincarnated, they would want to come back as one of her children.
Now able to drink her Diet Dr. Peppers, listen to Elvis, and watch The Sound of Music for all eternity, she was predeceased by her parents as well as her grandson, Tyler Dannaway. Survivors include: Jan Dannaway, her husband of 58 years; her two sons, Doug Dannaway
(and his wife Carrie) of Edmond, Oklahoma, and Steve Dannaway (and his wife Teresa) of Benton, Arkansas; her two granddaughters, Shannon and Kaylin Dannaway; her deeply close friend, Scott Brook of Little Rock; and her canine companion, Andy. These are in addition to scores of friends and others whom she influenced and mentored throughout her life. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Tyler Dannaway Foundation.

Visitation will be held on Tuesday, September 2, 2025, from 6:00pm until 8:00pm, at Roller-Chenal Funeral Home. Funeral will be 10:30am, Wednesday, September 3, 2025, in the chapel of Roller-Chenal, with burial to follow at Forest Hills Cemetery.

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