Lana Marie Sanford

Being the biggest fan of the Olympic Games, its best to honor Lana Marie Sanford-Day as the Olympian she was to our family. Lana came to us in her opening ceremony on April 29, 1941. Like the Olympic torch she would symbolically carry throughout life, her flame burned bright. The youngest of five, she was considered her mommy and daddy’s gold medal. Lana herself would welcome 4 gold medals, in the form of her daughter and 3 sons. Lana would share laughter and tears with anyone who was fortunate to know her, and she became skilled in gardening, cooking, baking and crafting. In fact, her passion for canning earned her multiple blue ribbons and best in show at the Northwest Washington Fair; her specialty? Ambrosia. Through tragedy and triumph, like any great Olympian, Lana used this to fuel her motivation, overcome hardships, and champion our family as our beloved matriarch. She later became the gold medal recipient in grandparenting as her grandchildren and great grandchildren were the greatest gift she felt she had ever received. We will miss her humor, her love of the color red, the cards she sent out to everyone on their birthdays and “just because” messages. We will miss her telephone calls to tell us a certain “program” was on, usually figure skating, and her way of celebrating every holiday bigger and better than ever before. Lana’s closing ceremony was on March 4, 2018, where she was welcomed into the loving arms of her mother and father. She is preceded in death by her parents Tom and Enola Sanford, husband Davy Day, sisters Maureen Anderson and Dorene Gorze, brother Bob, and niece Bobbie Jo Trickett. She is survived by her daughter and best friend Tami (Bruce) Bayer, sons Scott, Ken (Theresa) Edin, and Jim Bunker. Her sister Ramona (Ed) Pruesser. Her grandchildren Melanie (Emilie) Marcos, Nikolas Marcos, Kayla Edin, Travis Edin, and Tuesday Nicholson. Great grandchildren Harlow, Karma, Ruby, and Julian, and numerous cousins, nieces and nephews. Please join us in celebrating our mom, sister, and Gram, Lana, on April 7, 2018 at the Elks Lodge, 710 Samish Way, Bellingham, WA, 98229 at 2 p.m. In lieu of flowers please make donations in Lana’s name to: Lana Sanford Memorial Fund, Whatcom Educational Credit Union.

Lana Marie Sanford

April 29, 1941 - March 4, 2018