Sandy Marwick

Curiosity was a productive trait in Sandy Marwick’s life.

The former Butler Eagle community editor — who worked in that department from 2004 through 2012 — was killed in an automobile crash Wednesday in Mercer County. She was 68.

Marwick served on the copy desk for three years before becoming an editor. She left the Eagle to pursue a career in education.

“She was such a curious person who always strived for more,” said Penny Watson, one of Marwick’s two daughters. “She left the Eagle to pursue her master’s degree at Edinboro University. But she loved it there.

“She juggled working, going to college, was a single parent raising two children. She was amazing, so curious about people, curious about the world.”

Hannah Bradley, Marwick’s other daughter, chimed in, “She was so hard-working ... hardest working person I’ve ever known.”

Marwick spent many hours at the Eagle collecting feature story ideas and following through on them.

“She always came up with good story ideas,” retired Eagle managing editor Mark Mann said. “Sandy was a valued employee. She enjoyed providing coverage of community events.

“She was always happy to report on good deeds people were doing in Butler County. Sandy was so dedicated to what she did for us. She was such a good person.”

Retired Eagle managing editor Donna Sybert admired the versatility of Marwick’s writing.

“She would write stories that tickle you: important health stories, the history of people,” Sybert said. “She’d do a story about nicknames, what people do on Valentine’s Day, was the place you’re living in once something else, like a church ... She touched the community with heartfelt stories.

“Most people appear in the paper on the community page. From kids to senior citizens, it’s a wide range to serve. Her stories were such a joy to read. She served as a voice for the community.”

Retired Eagle copy editor Elizabeth Scott recalled a Marwick story about Christmas tree production in Butler County.

“Sandy went out to a Christmas tree farm on a rainy day and talked to people,” Scott said. “She turned that into such a sweet story. That had to be 15 years ago. That story just stayed with me.

“We had fun in the office, too. The community and sports offices were next door to each other (with an open doorway) and we jokingly called it Spo-Com, came up with cute catch-phrases to describe our merger. Sandy played a big part of that.”

“She was very witty, a fun person to work with,” Sybert agreed.

Part of Marwick’s schedule at the Eagle was working on Saturdays. She made certain her young daughters were taken care of in that regard. She would bring them to work with her on some of those weekends.

“We have a lot of fond memories there,” Bradley said. “She’d take us with her on assignments sometimes, to community events, bar mitzvahs, whatever. Just seeing her work ... a role model? 100%.

“She would bring in a TV for us to watch in her office while she would work. Mom loved working on coverage of people. Her favorite part of that job was telling their stories. It was fun being a part of all that.”

Watson described Marwick’s storytelling at the Eagle as “bringing joy and magic to the community. And she loved doing it.”

“She was a lovely person,” Eagle publisher and general manager Tammy Schuey said.