Sandra Lea Mabbott (Cantril)

Sandra Lea Mabbott (Cantril), affectionately known as Sandy, passed away in Spokane, Wash. on Aug. 27, 2024 at the age of 81. Born on Sept. 29, 1942, in Los Angeles, Calif, within her first year she moved to Southwick, Idaho where she was raised on North Idaho farms amongst family. Sandy was a proud member of Kendrick High School's class of 1960, where she met the love of her life, Jack Mabbott.

After high school, Sandy sold her cow to attend one year at the College of Idaho. The next year on Dec. 16, 1961, Jack and Sandy married in Lewiston, Idaho. The couple moved to Lawton, Oklahoma where Jack was stationed in the army. After their service, they briefly moved to Juliaetta, Idaho until Jack was offered a job in Connell, Wash. The couple started their family and settled there until 1977 when work took them to Bigfork, Montana and later in 1979 they moved to Medical Lake, Wash.

Sandy was known her infectious smile, beautiful hair, generosity, her love of soft serve vanilla ice cream and Junior Mints and for her fierce love of family and friends. She was extremely creative. Some of her hobbies included walking, crafting, sewing, crocheting, baking and cooking. Her homemade treats and crafts were the highlights of many gatherings.

Over the years, Sandy and Jack loved to travel. They camped, jeeped and boated all over the Pacific Northwest with their family, various clubs and their many friends. Sandy loved to visit family and friends in other states and later in retirement, she and Jack continued to camp and travel. They enjoyed cruising to Alaska and Panama as well as taking bus, train and plane trips with friends all over the United States and Canada.

Sandy held various jobs while raising her family including working as a receptionist at a television cable company and picking mushrooms at a mushroom farm. She retired from the State of Washington, having held various administrative assistant positions at Lakeland Village and at Consolidated Support Services where she was well-regarded for her work ethic, her positive attitude and her birthday treats.

Faith and service were important to Sandy. She was a member of St. Anne's Catholic Church, was a volunteer with 4-H, Girl Scouts, schools and local committees. She donated to her favorite charities and was a member of the local Red Hats Society. She was always available to help friends and family and was a second "Mom" to many. Sandy was most famous for the many afghans she crocheted for family, friends and charity auctions as well as the hundreds of hats she crocheted for people in need.

Sandy leaves behind her husband of 62 years, Francis (Jack) Mabbott, and children, Judy (Mabbott) and Larry Dehle and Teresa (Mabbott) Ball. Grandma Sandy was a cherished grandmother to Braxton and Alexis (Marlatt) Ball and to the "Dehle girls" and their spouses: Mykah and Carl French, Karrina and E. Matthew Connolly and Nikkita. She was great-grandmother to Evelyn and Oliver French and to Jaxon and Maddox Ball. She was preceded in death by her parents, Virginia (Hughes) Cantril Spain and Donald Cantril.

The family has announced that services will be held at a later date in the spring. Cheney Funeral Chapel is assisting the family with arrangements and Sandy will be buried at the Washington State Veterans Cemetery in Medical Lake, Wash. In lieu of flowers, the family requests contributions be made to an organization close to Sandy's heart KSPS/PBS or Casting for Recovery-North Idaho/Eastern Washington. Sandy's friendly smile, legacy of love, service and faith will be remembered by all who knew her.