Sandra Lee Mitchell
March 5, 1943 ~ May 18, 2015
Sandra Mitchell
Sandra Mitchell, 72, passed away May 18, 2015 at Sky Ridge Hospital in Lone Tree, Colorado. Sandra suffered a massive stroke at The Center at Lincoln Rehab. facility in Parker, Colorado
Sandra was born March 5, 1943, in Kane, PA, she was the daughter of the late Charles and Doris Cuthbertson.
Sandra and Galen were married in Bradford, PA on October 27, 1962. Sandra's husband was employed at that time with Mc Donnell in St. Louis, MO working on the Gemini Space Program. Following their marriage, Sandra was hired by Mc Donnell and worked as a Secretary in the Human Relations Department. In 1964, Galen was offered a transfer to the Kennedy Space Center in Florida to work as a Test Engineer supporting all 12 Gemini launches. Sandra resumed her career with Mc Donnell, coordinating Astronaut activities with the Mc Donnell Launch Team. In 1980 Sandra & Galen joined Lockheed Martin Aerospace in Colorado, retiring October 1, 2005.
Sandra was preceded in death by her sister Roberta Sankner. She is survived by her loving husband Galen, of Franktown, Colorado, a nephew, Craig Sankner, in Fairfax, VA. and many friends.
Sandra's wish was to be cremated and her ashes taken to Rocky Mountain National Park and spread at one of her favorite places, Horseshoe Park, at a later date.
*Note: The above photo was taken at the Dunraven Inn restaurant in Estes Park, CO on October 27, 2012 - our Golden Wedding Anniversary.
Family and friends are encouraged to share stories and photograph's of Sandra here on her website. (click appropriate tab above.
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I am a better person having known Sandra. I strive to be as kind and compassionate as she is. I will never be but she is my role model. I am honored she called me friend. I considered her my fifth sister. She faced this adversity with grace and humor. I can't imagine life without my dear friend. Galen, we'll have to sustain ourselves with good memories.
The world is less sweet without her in it.
And no one rocked a hat like Sandra!
Sandra was my client for over 15 years and became one of my dearest friends. We shared many laughs with a few serious moments thrown in. Everyone in the salon knew Sandra because she always greeted everyone with a smile and a friendly hello. She always carried herself with such poise and I agree with Lea, nobody wore a hat better. I miss Sandra terribly and my Tuesday afternoons will never be quite the same. I Love You and may you rest in peace. Thank You Galen for continuing to bring Sandra to see me when she wasn't able to come alone. You are my special friend as well.
Aunt Sandra … What a lady! Beautiful, fun-loving, classy and a smile that lights up all of Colorado. We will miss her dearly; but, Uncle Galen, take comfort in knowing that your Lady is in a better place and she suffers no more. Please know our thoughts and prayers are with you … GOD BLESS.
Sandra and I worked together for several years. She was one of the sweetest, caring and most compassionate people I've known. She never had a cross word and was loved by all in the group. She will be greatly missed. Galen, our thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.
Bob & Linda Berry
floral memories of Sandra
Of course it's pleasant to remember a friend by the image in the mind, by the recollection of the voice in the ear…And it's pleasant, and perhaps more immediate, to remember that friend in the observation of the beautiful world around us. That's how we'll remember our friend, Sandra Mitchell – in the flowers she made us aware of, gave to us, and enjoyed from us.
The first flower to appear in our harsh Colorado Spring is the lilac. Fortunately the previous owners, Marsha and David, planted several lilac bushes; none are more prolific than the ones along the west fence, and convenient to Galen on a short walk across Village Pines Circle. Every year save this one, when she suffered shortness of breath, Sandra had at least one bouquet of lilacs to remind her of the beauty of Spring. In future years we'll enjoy the lilacs, and the memory of our friend.
The second flower in the Colorado Spring is the lion's tooth – popularly known as the dandelion (Lat. dens leonis, Fr. dent de lion). If you don't know, the dandelion is considered an herb (www.mountainroseherbs.com/products/dandelion), of complex composition, containing taraxacin, flavonoids, is rich in potassium, tannins, fiber, carotenoids, citric acid, triterpene derivatives and numerous vitamins and minerals. Sounds complex, useful, and helpful – like Sandra. A good Midwestern boy, I was reared to consider dandelions weeds, and sprayed ours every Spring with herbicide – until Sandra told me she liked them, Nature's simple little flowers. Her opinion coincided with my own desire to stop spraying poisons, so I was glad to stop. We will not lack small, humble yellow reminders of Sandra in future Springs.
The third flower of Colorado Spring is the flower Sandra gave to us, the Iris. As you know, iris plants must be uprooted every few years, put to rest over the Winter, and replanted in the Spring. One of those past years Sandra uprooted theirs and shared the rhizomes with us. You can see the benefit we gained in the nearby picture. Beautiful yellow and purple flowers to brighten the kitchen table on a Summer day. A glass of wine doesn't hurt either.
Those are some – a few – of our memories of Sandra Mitchell in the years we knew her – kind, generous, sharing, alive to the world she saw around her. The world we see around us will remind us of her. RIP
Dear Galen,
I was thinking about Sandra this morning as I have many times through the years. Especially when I drive by your place in Franktown. I was so surprised to see that she had passed last year. I wish that I could have seen her. She will always be in my heart and I loved her. She was one of my first clients at one of the first salons in Parker. She was a genuine lady.