Sandra Jean Lee, born and raised in Quincy, California, and a member of one of the founding families of Plumas County, died peacefully surrounded by her family on June 7, 2024. She was born Aug. 29, 1940, in Quincy, the third daughter to Edna Brossard and John Corydon Lee.
Sandra Lee graduated with the class of 1958 from Quincy High School, where she was elected editor of the school yearbook and played piano in the band. She cherished her lifelong friendships at Quincy High. Among her favorite memories of growing up in Quincy were working as an usher and cashier for her dad at the Town Hall Theatre. Sandra also served as the Worthy Advisor for the Rainbow Girls. Years later, she loved hosting class reunions for the “Golden Grads” in Quincy to reminisce and share stories about growing up in Quincy.
In 1958, Sandra married her high school sweetheart Bob Kennedy. Their son John David Kennedy was born in 1958, and in 1960 they welcomed their daughter, Kimberlee Jean Kennedy. Bob and Sandra moved to Sacramento to raise their young family. Sandra spent her summers as the lead “snack shack mom” at Little League parks, and during the school year, she served as the PTA president. She also worked modeling in both print and runway in the Sacramento area. In 1977, Bob and Sandra divorced, and she took a position as the executive secretary of production for the Sacramento Union newspaper.
In 1982, Sandra married Al Sherrington, and they settled on a small ranch in Fallon, Nevada, which they named “Two Feather Farm.” Sandra loved entertaining her family, especially during summers with her grandchildren. Vacations at grandmother’s house were filled with riding one of their Missouri Fox Trotters, speeding in the fields on the ATV, feeding all the farm animals, trips to Virginia City or the Gallagher Livestock Auction, and, on a hot day, going to the indoor swimming pool.
Sandra loved her era as a cowgirl and had the boots and hat to show for it! She and Al took part in adventures with the John Wayne Riders and rode the two-week trail ride on the John Wayne Trail across the state of Washington to the Idaho border. Riding a horse in the Plumas County Fair Parade was on Sandra’s bucket list. In August 2005, her wish came true, riding with “The Lee Family Riders.” Their entry won a blue ribbon!
In 2006, Sandra was homesick for her hometown and moved to Quincy to be the manager of the Sporting Inn Bed & Breakfast, once owned by her father Corydon Lee. Sandy quickly became an active member of the community. She volunteered to be the chair of the Plumas County fair parade and organized over 100 entries for the 2006 parade. From 2008-2012 Sandra filled the Mineral Building at the Plumas County Fairgrounds with exhibits of minerals that were mined in Plumas County. She also served as a trustee at the Plumas County Museum while living in Quincy.
In 2011, Sandra opened an antique store called Village Antiques. This made her the fourth generation of entrepreneurs from the Lee Family in Quincy. Sandra’s great-grandfather was a businessman who moved to Quincy in 1866. In 1896 her grandfather established a lumber mill at what is now Lee Summit. Her father was a general contractor and owned the Town Hall Theatre in Quincy and the Log Cabin Theater in Portola.
Sandra was honored to receive the Woman of the Year Award from the Business and Professional Women in appreciation for her exceptional qualities of leadership and integrity, and her distinguished achievements for the betterment of her community.
Sandra had a passion for country western music and line dancing. She was also a skilled crafter and enjoyed putting together craft fairs for many years. Her “tours” of Quincy delighted her children, grandchildren, nieces and nephews. The tours included her family’s homes, private showings of the Lee family collections at the museum, the spot where she played on the courthouse lawn with Natalie Wood and, of course, the ticket kiosk at the Town Hall Theatre.
No matter where Sandra lived, she always returned to Bucks Lake every summer right around the Plumas-Sierra County Fair to camp with her children and grandchildren. Many happy memories were created at Bucks Lake fishing, hiking to the top of Spanish Peak or the bottom of China Gulch, and going to the fair. Sandra also loved waterskiing at Bucks Lake when the water was like glass, and she had quite the reputation for being able to wipe out and not get her hair wet!
Sandra always had plenty of love for everyone and was a loving mother, wife, daughter, sister, aunt, grandmother, and great-grandmother.
She is survived by children David and Kimberlee; grandchildren Quincy Lee, Genesee, Natalie, Ryan, Kyle, Katherine, Jake, Grace, and Olivia. In April 2024, Genesee gave Sandra the new title of “great-grandmother” as she welcomed her first great-grandchild, Hudson LeRoy Jones.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations in memory of Sandra Lee be sent to the Plumas County Museum (530-283-6320) or the Plumas Sierra County Fair Foundation (530-283-6272). Services will be held on August 17 at 10:00 a.m. at Blair Funeral Home, followed by a gathering at the Mineral Building from 12 – 3:00 p.m. All are welcome to attend and celebrate the life and legacy of Sandra Lee.
