Sandra Davis, 77
Sandra J Lee Davis passed away Aug. 13, 2024, surrounded by her loving family. Sandra was born in Anaconda, Mont., on Nov. 2, 1946, as the oldest child to her parents, Leo and Fay (Jensen) Lee.
She spent her early years in Opportunity and Anaconda, Mont., and moved with her family to Hayden Lake, Idaho, in 1953. Over the next few years, her family moved several times throughout Northern Idaho, eventually settling in Dalton Gardens, Idaho, just before Sandra entered the ninth grade. Sandra was always involved in the farm chores, including collecting eggs as a small girl from the chicken coop behind their home in Opportunity to helping tend their Jersey milk cow at their home in Dalton Gardens.
Sandra graduated from Coeur d’Alene High School in 1964 and subsequently attended Ricks College in Rexburg, Idaho. After attending Ricks College for a time, Sandra became employed as a stewardess for United Airlines, based in Seattle. It was there, in 1968, that Sandra met Scott Daniel Davis. After dating for a time, Scott and Sandra fell in love, and Sept. 4, 1969, the two were married and sealed in the Salt Lake City, Utah Temple. Following their marriage, Sandra accompanied Scott to Provo, Utah, where he was finishing his bachelor’s degree at Brigham Young University. In July of 1970, they welcomed their oldest child, Jeff, into the world and shortly thereafter departed for Chicago, Ill., where they would live for the next four years while Scott attended dental school at Northwestern University. Their second child and oldest daughter, Kristen, joined the family in 1973. Scott and Sandra moved back to the Northwest in 1974 following dental school, settling on the North side of Spokane, Wash., where they would spend the next fifty years together. There, they welcomed five more children — Briettney in 1975, Brent in 1977, Cherea in 1979, Blair in 1981 and Brieanna in 1984. Together, they raised their seven lovely children.
Sandra was a devoted disciple of Jesus Christ and raised her family as members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Life in the Davis home was an environment of faith, love, athletics, service and active living. Sandra has served in the Church throughout her life, serving as a seminary teacher, Sunday School teacher, young women’s advisor, emergency preparedness and self-reliance coordinator, and missionary to a Spanish-speaking congregation near downtown Spokane. She is proud of the faithful service rendered by all her family members, including the combined ten children and grandchildren who have or are serving full-time missions. She and Scott sent their children to Saint George’s School in North Spokane, and she was among the loudest and longest-tenured Dragon faithful — all seven of her children and one grandson who graduated from Saint Georges.
In addition to her life-long primary passions of family and faith, Sandra loved to garden, work at the long-time family business (Davis Family Dental), tell stories, camp, cook, can and laugh with family members and friends. Sandra was also known for her hard work, unwavering testimony of her Savior Jesus Christ, generosity, spunk and firm distinction between right and wrong. Hers was a life of devoted service, compassion and love. She was a faithful daughter to Leo and Fay and a caring big sister to her three younger siblings. She and Scott were married for nearly 55 years, giving all they had to each other, their large family, and so often to friends and acquaintances.
Her children remember her comforting hugs, excellent cooking, famous sandwiches, proficient sewing, dropping off and picking up at Saint Georges, many hundreds of church, athletic, and other events, family camping trips, family vacations, working together, famous Sunday pot roast dinners and the loving care their mother rendered when they were ill.
Her pride and joy were her children and grandchildren. Her kitchen and backyard with the swimming pool were the atrium of family life and the site of countless hours of joy, cooking, swimming, games, laughter, love, worship and family. Sandra would take her grandchildren with her everywhere, from shopping trips to Costco to errands for business, family, and church and to the property where she kept a flock of chickens. She was truly the matriarch of the large Davis family. Her grandchildren adore her, and her children honor her. The only lasting regret is that there is no more time with her on this earth. To that end, Sandra’s family anticipates a joyful reunion with her one day in eternal life.
Sandra was preceded in death by her parents, Leo and Fay Lee, her stepmother, Helen Beckman Lee, and her sister-in-law, Gayle Lee. She is survived by her loving husband, Scott, and her children, Jeff (Gaylene), Kristen, Briettney (Landon), Brent (Jen), Cherea (Rocky), Blair (Linda) and Brieanna (T.J.). She is also survived by her brother, Gary (Lilly), her sister, Jean (Steve), and her brother, Jim (Paula), 32 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
Funeral services will be held Sept. 2 at the LDS Chapel, 5302 East Greenbluff Road, Colbert, Wash. There will be a viewing at 9 a.m., followed by funeral services at 10 a.m. Interment will be at the South Pines Cemetery at 12:30 p.m.
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