Sandy Callan
Sandy Callan, 94 of Goldendale, died in Goldendale Sept. 3, 2009.
She was born Edna "Sandy" Sanstrum, the second of three children, to Lawrence F. and Mable E. Sanstrum in Portland, on Dec. 8, 1914.
When she was four years old, the family moved to the Pleasant Valley area near Goldendale. Sandy's family farmed in Pleasant Valley and she attended school in what is now the grange hall. The family moved to Glenwood and after five years returned to Goldendale. In 1933 Sandy graduated from Goldendale High School then attended Northwestern School of Commerce in Portland. She returned to Goldendale and worked as a Deputy County Clerk and later as a legal secretary for the law firm of McEwen and Brooks. Sandy also worked simultaneously for the county extension agent L.W. Ternahan and for the Agricultural Adjustment Administration. During this time she married Kirk W. McKee and the couple had three children, Kathryn, Kirby and Kelly. Kirk died in 1975 and Sandy found love again, marrying Herb Callan on June 10, 1979.
Sandy kept busy not only as a wife and mother, but was most active in her community. She was president of Goldendale PTA and then became secretary of the Washington State PTA. She was also a charter member of the "Pied Pipers," a singing group that won many competitions. Sandy was initiated into Chapter AM P.E.O. in 1953 and served several terms as their president. In 2003 she was awarded her 50-year pin and their state convention. Sandy was also very active in the American Cancer Society. She was secretary to three superintendents of Goldendale schools before retiring in 1979.
In their retirement, Sandy and Herb spent the remainder of their married life traveling and enjoying their grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Sandy is survived by her husband Herb of Goldendale; children Kathryn Fiser of San Antonio, Texas, Kirby McKee of Sagle, Idaho and Kelly Patterson of Spokane; stepchildren, Gene Callan of Portland, Kim Callan of Walla Walla, and Galen Callan of Portland; 12 grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren; sister Kathryn Hays of Stevenson; sister-in-law Betty McKee Lobb of Vancouver; and many cousins, nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her first husband Kirk McKee and her brother Paul Sanstrum.
A funeral service was held Sept. 8, Columbia Hills Memorial Chapel in Goldendale with burial at Mt. View Cemetery.
