Sally Stevens

Sally Stevens (July 29,1949 – August 14, 2025) born as the surviving twin to Betty (Trowbridge) and William Appeldoorn in Kalamazoo lived her life with thoughtfulness and gusto, a steady blend of precision and generosity. From her earliest days of growing up on Forest Street in the Vine neighborhood, she found joy in community, volunteering, and investing in others. She had an extraordinary gift for learning what people loved and then showering them with exactly that—whether it was a treat, a thoughtful gesture, note, or her time and attention.

Sally and her husband Carl, whom she married on December 21, 1974, built a life together filled with curiosity, travel, and simple pleasures. Their adventures took them to living in New Mexico where they fished and roamed and enjoyed getting breakfast at that quaint breakfast spot in Cuba, NM. Carl preceded her in death on June 17, 2007, but the love they shared continued to shape her life.

Analytical yet warm, Sally was known for making people feel welcome, comfortable, and included. She matched her intelligence with hard work and high standards, qualities she carried through her education at Kalamazoo College and Western Michigan University, and into her career in computer systems analysis with IBM, the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, and finally Borgess Hospital, where she retired in 2013 to adventuring to Africa, Iceland, and Nova Scotia.

Sally had a love for order and routine, often with room for delight. Oatmeal was measured with precision, but toppings—blueberries and nuts—were where the fun began. Ice cream was a seasonal celebration; Plainwell Ice Cream Company’s opening day was a ritual she looked forward to, always choosing vanilla, chocolate, or butter pecan with chocolate sauce. Summers called for margaritas, and winters for schnapps in cocoa.

Her home life reflected her care and energy—gardening, walking, bon-firing ‘samoras’, (s’mores), sweeping her deck daily of fallen debris, or enjoying a book inside. Popcorn was her favorite snack, especially her unique treat of eating popcorn in milk. Freshly popped with butter and salt, dropped into a bowl of milk, eaten like cereal.

The people who are left behind to continue the gift of telling Sal’s story include a multitude of friends from all her volunteer groups, walking friends, and driveway drinking neighbors. The family who already miss her include brothers, Jeff (Molly) Appeldoorn, Dave (Lori) Appeldoorn, stepchildren Laurie (Paul) Johnson, Carri Davis, and their children/spouses: Duke Appeldoorn, Ryer (Chelsey) Appeldoorn, AJ (Victor) Appeldoorn-Orozco, Maddie Johnson (Alex Warren), Alex Johnson (Bailey Wilson), and Mel.

Though Sally worked quietly behind the scenes to better the lives of others -- most recently with Communities In Schools, YWCA, her church food pantry, and Oakwood Neighborhood Association -- her volunteer work did not go unnoticed. In 2018, she was the inaugural recipient of the Gulnar Husain Volunteer Award, recognized for her desire to serve children with a consistent and unflinching passion.

Sally also found deep fulfillment in chronicling her family’s genealogy with meticulous devotion, leaving behind a legacy of connection for generations. She was a true companion to dogs, who seemed to know instinctively that she was a kindred spirit.

Always game for adventure: campfires, always ready for ice cream, a walk, or dinner in no particular order, Sally embodied both consistency and surprise. She gave her life to the people and places she loved, and she will be remembered for her kindness, spirited ways, thoughtfulness, and generosity.

Sally would appreciate a donation in her honor to Communities In Schools of Kalamazoo, Missions Committee at First United Methodist Church, or Oakwood Neighborhood Association.

The family wishes to thank the stellar nurses and assistants for their exemplary care at Bronson Methodist Hospital, Friendship Village Health Center, and Centrica Care Navigators.

Services will be held at 1 pm on Saturday, August 23, 2025 at the First United Methodist Church of Kalamazoo, 212 South Park Street. A reception will follow at the church. Celebrate Sally's life online by sharing your favorite stories and photos on his dedicated webpage at BetzlerLifeStory.com. Betzler Life Story Funeral Homes, 6080 Stadium Drive, Kalamazoo (269) 375-2900.