Former Riverton mayor Sandra N. Lloyd dies

Sandra Newman Lloyd, Riverton's first female mayor, longtime community servant and pageant director, died Monday following a battle with a rare blood disease. She was 70 years old.

Mrs. Lloyd was born in Riverton on Feb. 22, 1935, to Mabel Jean Langford Newman and Moss Newman. She attended Riverton Elementary, Riverton Junior High and Jordan High School.

She married Robert E. Lloyd in September 1955. The couple has three children and five grandchildren.

Mrs. Lloyd served as a PTA president, worked as a wedding consultant and held secretarial positions before being appointed Riverton city recorder in 1980, a post she held 14 years. She took office as the first female mayor of Riverton in 1994 and served two terms, during which she successfully pushed to save the former Heber and Mary Jane Crane home, which is now the Riverton Museum, and the old Riverton Elementary School, which now houses city government.

Involved in the Miss America organization, Mrs. Lloyd was the Miss Riverton pageant director for three decades.

Mrs. Lloyd had a passion for the arts, serving on the Zoo, Arts and Parks Board and helping create the Riverton Metropolitan Orchestra, Riverton Art Museum, Riverton Arts Festival and other cultural organizations.

She was diagnosed 3 1/2 years ago with a relatively rare disorder, refractory anemia, which is related to the bone marrow's blood cell production.

A viewing is scheduled for Friday from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Riverton Civic Center, 12830 S. Redwood Road, in the council chamber room. Services will be held Saturday at 11 a.m. at the LDS Riverton Park Ward, 12950 S. 1300 West. Burial will be in Riverton City Cemetery.