On Tuesday November 23, 2021 SSG Keon Clyde Sands, a loving brother, son, soldier and light to us all passed on at the young age of 27.

Keon was born October 15, 1994 in North Miami FL. He attended Crescent City High School where he played basketball and discovered his love for health & fitness. After graduating in 2013 he began his career at Epic Flight Academy; fueling jets as well as everyone around him.

In the next chapter of his life, he expanded on his military career where he was part of the 2153rd Financial Management Support Detachment as Squad Leader and the Senior Financial Management Analyst. As the Squad Leader SSG Sands was responsible for the welfare, fitness, morale, and discipline of his squad, he guided and mentored with training and maintenance of their equipment. He insured the success of junior leader development on active duty, regular drill, DSCA operations and while off duty he led by example and encouraged junior Soldiers to do so as well.

SSG Sands' additional appointed duties were Unit Prevention Leader (UPL), Master Fitness Trainer (MFT), and Master Resilience Trainer.

SSG Sands served as the Ready & Resilient Program NCO.  His areas of responsibility focused on assisting with the facilitation of Resilience, Risk Reduction, Health Promotion and Suicide Prevention programs for the Florida Army National Guard.  As the R2 Program NCO, he trained hundreds of Soldiers in resilience and physical readiness training.  He was responsible for the successful pilot of a remote coaching program where he provided remote coaching to Soldiers who struggled to meet minimum Army physical readiness requirements.  He served as the Chair of the Physical Readiness Working Group, a sub-committee of the Commander's Ready & Resilient Council.  SSG Sands expertly managed the R2 Program's Command Inspection Program.  He evaluated and inspected numerous FLARNG units to ensure they met the Army's requirements for resilience and suicide prevention.

His awards includes: The Army Commendation Medal, The Army Good Conduct Medal, The Humanitarian Service Medal, The National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Armed Forces Reserve Medal W/M Device, and Army Reserve Components Achievement Medal.

Keon picked up a strong passion for riding and soon fell in love with his motorcycles, and all that came with it. The bike community quickly took too and invited him in with open arms where he gained lifetime friends.

He was known for his infectious laugh, endless smile, kind and compassionate loving spirit, and most importantly his light.

Keon is accompanied in heaven by his dearly loved mother Darlena, having passed exactly one month after Keon, and greatly missed by his father Clyde, sister Alexus, oldest brother Brandon, and love of his life Celena. As well as many friends, associates, coworkers, fellow soldiers, beloved cat Leo and many others.

A funeral service will conducted 11:00 am Monday December 27, 2021 at Lohman Funeral Home Ormond, 735 W Granada Blvd  Ormond Beach, FL 32174.  Interment and Military Honors follow at Cape Canaveral National Cemetery in Mims, FL at 2:00 pm.

Condolences and memories may be shared with the family at lohmanfuneralhomes.com.

Donations & cards can be sent to PO Box 88 in Bunnell, FL 32110