Elizabeth Anthea "Liz" Sandage- Mussey, 86, of Urbana passed away at 1:26 a.m. on Tuesday, April 11, 2017 at her home surrounded by family.

A graveside service will be held at 11:30 a.m. on Saturday, April 15,2017 at Mt. Hope Mausoleum in Champaign. A visitation will be held prior to the graveside from 10:00-11:00 a.m. at Renner-Wikoff Chapel in Urbana.

Liz was born on October 13, 1930 in Larned, Kansas to parents Curtis Carl and Beulah Pauline (Knupp) Smith. They preceded her in death. Also preceding her in death was her sister, Evelyn. In 1971 she married Charles "Sandy" Sandage, he passed away on April 23, 1998. On October 21, 2000 Liz married Robert Mussey, he passed away on March 18, 2015.

She is survived by her children, Diana (Dan) Wilson of Battlefield, Missouri and David (Suzy) Danner of Wesley Chapel, Florida. Her half-sister Judy (John) Brand of Joppatown, Maryland and three grandchildren also survive her.

Liz attended Oklahoma State, earned her Bachelor of Science in 1967 and her Master of Arts in 1970 from the University of Colorado and earned her Doctor of Philosophy in 1973 from the University of Illinois. She worked as a Public relations representative and editor at Martin News, Martin Marietta Corporation in Denver from 1960-1963 and 65-67. She also worked as a retail advertising salesperson for the Denver Post, 1967-1970.

Once she moved to Illinois she became the Instructor of Advertising at the University of Illinois from 1970-1971 and the visiting lecturer of advertising from 1977-1984.

Liz was the vice president, corporation secretary and director of the Farm Research Institute, Urbana, Illinois from 1984 until retirement in 1995.

Elizabeth was an American Market Research Executive, on the Board of Directors at the University of Illinois Library Friends, 1991-1995; the executive director of Sandage Charitable Trust, since 1986. Member of the University Illinois Alumni Association (president's council), Champaign Social Science Club, The Book Club, Moneymakers Investment Club and Kappa Tau Alpha.

Liz was a very driven woman and passionate in her beliefs. She enjoyed word puzzles, crossword puzzles and playing games.

Memorial contributions may be made to the U of I Foundation or to the Charitable Trust for Entrepreneurship at Graceland University.