Margaret Elaine Sanford

Elaine Sanford, beloved wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and great-great-grandmother passed away at Coulee Medical Center in Grand Coulee, Washington, on Sunday, November 29, 2015.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Perry and Ella Brooks; older sibling, Phyllis Sears; and younger siblings, Kenneth Brooks and Betty Whitelaw.

She is survived by her husband, Frank, at home in Grand Coulee; a younger sister, Barbara Phillips of Portland, Oregon; two sons: Delmar (Linda) Sanford, and George (Jean) Sanford. She is also survived by grandchildren: Nichole (Rocky) Seylor of Grand Coulee, David (Taunya) Sanford of Harrington, Troy (Robin) Sanford of Grand Coulee, Kyle (Jody)Sanford of Spokane, Josh Flowers of Grand Coulee; 10 great-grandchildren, three great-great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Elaine was born at McGinnis Lake, Washington, and the family lived there until the older children were of school age, at which time they moved to Nespelem. She graduated from Nespelem High School and met her future husband, Frank Sanford, Jr. They were married on January 22, 1942. They raised their family on a wheat and cattle ranch in the Rex Delrio area just west of Grand Coulee.

Elaine was a hard-working housewife and mother, preparing meals for harvest crews, raising a large garden and caring for her children. In 1963, she became manager of Rapid Robert's drive-in, owned by Robert Pachosa. She worked there for 25 years. After retirement, Elaine still raised huge gardens and cared for grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She and Frank loved to dance to cowboy-western music and it was a rare Saturday night when they were not at the Eagles with family and friends. They continued dancing until about 2009, when health issues forced them to retire their dancing shoes. They also enjoyed traveling with close friends throughout the west and British Columbia.

Elaine was a member of the Delrio Grange, Delrio Grange Ladies Club, later St. Andrews Grange, Coulee Medical Center Guild, Grand Coulee Dam Seniors and Eagles Lodge.

Frank and Elaine celebrated their seventy-third wedding anniversary on January 22, 2015.

Elaine will be missed by all who knew and loved her.

Special thanks to the Coulee Medical Center doctors, nurses and medical staff for their caring support for our loved one.

Funeral services will be held on Friday, December 4, 2015, at 11:00 a.m. at Strate Funeral Home, 339 E. Grand Coulee Ave, Grand Coulee. Donations may be made in Elaine's name to the Senior Meals Program, Grand Coulee Dam Seniors, or Coulee Medical Center Guild.