Annice Grace (Sue) Sanford passed away at the age of 88 on September 26, 2010 in G.R. Baker Memorial Hospital, Quesnel, B.C.
Sue was born in Viking, Alberta, January 15, 1922 to William and Mary Sheets. She grew up with five brothers and two sisters, attended school in Viking and during the war years worked as a telephone operator, which is how she met her husband-to-be Jim Sanford, a soldier at nearby Wainwright army camp. A chance meeting while placing a phone call, led to their marriage in May 1945, a move to Jim’s hometown of Quesnel and a lifetime spent ranching and raising three children.
Her retirement years allowed her the freedom to enjoy vegetable and flower gardening, crafts and time with grandchildren and great grandchildren. The cookie jar was always full of oatmeal cookies, the candy dish full of peppermints. Each family member had at least one of her handmade quilts or afghans and a share of her yearly supply of raspberry jam.
She was a child of the depression years, a town girl who became a ranch wife, a mother, a grandmother and great-grandmother. She was a talented seamstress, had a “green thumb and liked to read, play cards and games or discuss politics over a cup of tea. Her main focus was always her family and we will forever honour our beloved “Granny”.
She was predeceased by her husband James (Jim) Sanford in 2004, son William (Bill) Sanford in 2007, also her parents William and Mary Sheets, sisters Laura Swift and Bessie Lentz, brothers Bert and Stan Sheets.
She is survived by her daughter Joan Sanford (Steve Gulyas) of Lethbridge, AB, and her son Alan (Lorraine) Sanford of Quesnel, grandson Kelly Sanford and granddaughter Valerie (Cory) Torgerson of Prince George, granddaughters; Robin (Ryan) Wheeler and Reanne Sanford of Quesnel, great granddaughter Jodi Sanford, great-grandsons Kirk and Derek Torgerson of Prince George, great granddaughter Jayla Wheeler and great grandson Jaren Wheeler of Quesnel, brothers Henry, Gordon and Donald Sheets of Alberta, sister-in-law Betty Jasper of Quesnel, daughter-in-law Kathy Sanford of Vernon and numerous nieces and nephews.