Sort while keeping certain rows together where some columns are empty

My spreadsheet has 5 columns: NAME, DATE, ITEM, COST, TOTAL, where TOTAL is given only on last row for a particular NAME & DATE. Names can also be reused with different dates.
Jane 6/11 box $5
Jane 6/11 car $15 $20
Sam 7/2 box $2
Sam 7/2 kite $5 $7
Brad 8/1 kite $5
Brad 8/1 car $10 $15

If I sort by TOTAL I get:
Jane 6/11 car $15 $20
Brad 8/1 car $15 $15
Sam 7/2 kite $5 $7
Jane 6/11 box $5
Brad 8/1 kite $5
Sam 7/2 box $2

What I want is:
Jane 6/11 box $5
Jane 6/11 car $15 $20
Brad 8/1 kite $5
Brad 8/1 car $10 $15
Sam 7/2 box $2
Sam 7/2 kite $5 $7

This is simplistic here, but I have thousands of rows and additional columns (again some with info, others without for each row). I don't do VBA or similar. I've thought I've adding a new column before the name and assigning a number/alpha code, but nothing I've tried has produced my desired result when I sort (using multi-levels).

Yes, I've tried that. That's when I get all the lines with a "total" grouped at top and those without at the bottom. I want all of Jane together and all Brad together and so on PLUS Jane before Brad because her "total" is higher.

I'm attaching a more detailed and actual sample, which might help.

I inherited this spreadsheet and with thousands of entries so while I would have designed it differently, I'm trying to work with what I have. Also, others have to access it and are even less excel-literate than me.

Example1.xlsx

I'm not sure how easy it will be to accomplish this without changing the way the data is organized in the workbook. Do you have any control over that?

I can make any changes I want - but I do have to be sensitive to someone coming in if I leave or my supervisor who probably does not/will not have the same level of excel knowledge that I have. For example, I use formulas and links to other workbooks that others can't manage.

My preference would be to spend time now (even if significant) to save time later. This is a spreadsheet I will be dealing with daily - both adding new info and manipulating what is there. So if you have any suggestions I'm definitely interested.

It might be easier just to create pivot tables. Look at what I've attached, which is sorted by highest amount billed. Let me know if you think this will work.

Your pivot table example is what I want. I had considered a pivot table briefly, but unfortunately, while it works for me it's way too hard for anyone else here - generally they have only a rudimentary knowledge of excel. They can add items and do a simple sort and maybe a simple SUM function, but anything else is too much. I may just have to go with whatever is best for me and hope I retire before others complain too much.

Thanks.