Sandra Johnston Traweek

Born Mary Elisabeth Coker and adopted as Sandra Johnston, Sandra was a citizen of the world.

She was born in Dallas, Texas. Her birth mother was Dorothy Coker Dobbins of Durango, Colorado. She was adopted by Joe E. and Elma Johnston of Marlin, Texas, where she was raised and became an active leader in school. She loved playing the saxophone, where she earned a few medals, as well as journalism, where she headed her high school yearbook committee. While she had many friends she remained close with throughout her life, one of her closest was her horse, Trixie, who also became a world traveler.

Sandra went to Sam Houston State University to study journalism, where she earned a scholarship to the UNAM in Mexico City. There she met her first husband, Yasha Datshkovsky, with whom she had Alexandra. During this time she was an active writer, painter, and golfer.

After leaving Mexico she moved to Toronto, Canada for a year, then back to Texas, where she settled in College Station to attend Texas A&M University. She earned several additional degrees, including Animal Science, Psychology, and English. During these years she wrote articles for horse journals and started a horse newsletter. She later worked in child protective services, real estate, and as an entrepreneur with a word processing service and hypnosis counselor.

In 1983, Sandra married Marvin Bryce Traweek III, a rancher in Bryan, Texas. Her daughter, Virginia, was born when Sandra had just turned 48 years old. She retired in 1989, after taking care of Marvin during his illness with cancer. She spent her retired years tending to the ranch. She was active in the Wheelock Community Center group, and Brazos Valley Driving Club, organizing the Equestrian Market Day several times. To many in the community, she was like a second mother, including to Sandy Perry who loved Sandra dearly.

Sandra loved her ponies, her friends, her dogs, and wildlife in general. Many have said that if they come back in another life, they would want to be her animal. When she had an orphan calf, she would adopt it for life. She loved to spoil her horses as well as her dogs and loved them with all her heart.

She died peacefully at home with her daughters by her side knowing that a better place was ahead of her.

She is preceded in death by her brother, Joe E. Johnston Jr., her husband, Marvin Bryce Traweek III, her birth mother, Dorothy Dobbins (and husband, Homer Dobbins), and her adopted parents Joe E. Johnston Sr. and wife Elma. She is also preceded in death by many beloved animals: Trixie (childhood pony), Vargan (horse), Mira (horse), Sandy (dog), Chester (horse), and many, many more.

She is survived by Alexandra Rosson of Bryan, Virginia Traweek and husband Jim Branham of Bryan, grandson Byron Brooks Rosson II (and wife Eden Rosson), and great grandson Broden Rosson of Hastings, New Zealand. She is survived by sister-in-law Joanna Johnston of Mesquite, Texas, half-sister Elaine Bowden (and husband Joe) of Corvallis, Montana, half-brother Marv Dobbins of Durango, Colorado, and many nieces and nephews in Texas, Montana, and Colorado. She is also survived by her beloved dog, Dorothy.

A celebration of life will be on May 31. Please contact Alex or Virginia for more details.

In lieu of flowers, please donate to the Aggieland Humane Society, Twin City Mission, Wounded Warriors, Tunnel to Towers, or St. Luke’s Children’s Hospital.