Roary Sanford, 18

Roark (Roary) was born April 1, 1998, in Kalamazoo, and was taken from us suddenly on Oct. 22, 2016 at the age of 18½.
Roark resided in Kalamazoo and attended Mattawan High School. He wanted to be a veterinarian. Roark loved animals and had a way with them that spoke to the soul. He was a man with a loving, giving, gentle heart. He was a storyteller whose imagination was unmatched, and he volunteered at Kalamazoo SPCA.
Our Roary was given obstacles in life’s journey. He suffered with a form of autism (Aspergers), legally blind in one eye, ADD and a learning disability. These obstacles made it difficult to be accepted by others, and he was ignored by the others, all he wanted was a buddy to hang with and be included.
Surviving are parents, James of Sturgis and Angela (Springer) of Kalamazoo; brothers Jonathan (Kalamazoo), Mitchell (El Segundo, Calif.) and Drew (Kalamazoo); grandparents Sue (Dan) Langdon of Three Rivers and Joy Sanford of Sidnaw; uncles and aunts Larry (Linda) Springer of White Pigeon, Tony (Marsha) Springer, Steve (Danielle) Springer of Martin’s Ferry, Ohio, Rich Sanford of Sidnaw and Karen (Glen) Schultz of White Pigeon; and several cousins.
He is preceded in death by his beloved Aunt Valerie Springer, Grandpa Richard Sanford and cousin Calista Springer.
Friends may spend time with family from 5-8 p.m. Wednesday at Betzler Life Story Funeral Homes, 6080 Stadium Drive; Kalamazoo, where services will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday.
If you wish to send a memorial, please donate to AACORN (autism program) or animal welfare center.
Please visit Roark’s personal web page at www.BetzlerFuneralHome.com, where you can archive a favorite memory or photo of him and sign his online guestbook before coming to the funeral home. We’d like to say, as a family, please be an unrelenting advocate for your special needs loved one, pound doors and if you aren’t getting what you need, move on and keep trying, don’t take getting shut out and shut down, listen and snoop.