JoAnne Lee Sanford, 81, of Lacey, passed away May 12, 2021, at Providence St. Peter Hospital in Olympia.
JoAnne was born Jan. 20, 1940, in Aberdeen, Washington, where she grew up and lived most of her life. JoAnne graduated from Aberdeen High School in 1957, and married Richard A. Sanford shortly thereafter. They later divorced.
JoAnne is survived by her sister JoCelle (Ken) Strom, her niece Kristi (Strom) Steuben, her nephew Keith Strom and their families, and a lifetime of loving friends. She was preceded in death by her parents Leonard Russell and Laura Russell, and the tragic loss of her son Jeffrey Stephen Sanford, the light and joy of her life, in March 2011.
JoAnne worked hard all her life, most notably as finance directors for Evergreen Counseling in Aberdeen for many years, and then for the Grays Harbor Housing Authority in Aberdeen until her retirement. She also served on many non-profit committees and boards, including as a board member for TwinStar Credit Union since their early days. Giving back to the community was important to JoAnne.
She moved to Lacey in 2012 where she became involved in many activities through the Olympia Senior Center, such as committee work to welcome newcomers and help the homeless, and enjoyed Readers Theater and excursions with her friends.
JoAnne was a regionally renowned watercolor artist, perhaps most known for her seascapes and coastal paintings. Her beautiful work is greatly sought after and earned her countless awards. She nurtured this passion until the end of her life. She also loved to cook and experiment with new recipes, took countless classes in a variety of subjects, and read voraciously over the years in her constant quest to learn and grow.
Always ready with an empathetic ear, JoAnne was a dear friend to so many, even during her darkest hours. She was loyal, loving and full of life, articulate and a great conversationalist with a delightful and sometimes irreverent sense of humor. She positively impacted all those she knew with her smile and cheerful nature and was a bright star in the lives of her family, friends and all that were lucky enough to know her. JoAnne will be sorely missed.
Arrangements are by Harrison Family Mortuary in Aberdeen. Thoughts and sympathies can be left in the Book of Memories at harrisonfamilymortuary.com. Inurnment will be at Fern Hill Cemetery in Aberdeen, resting alongside her beloved son, Jeff.
A potluck gathering to celebrate JoAnne’s life will be held from 1 to 4 p.m. Sunday, June 13 in Aberdeen. Contact leeanne.french@gmail.com for details.
