Longtime journalist Sandra Medearis dies at 81
Sandra Lee Medearis January 8, 1941 – December 31, 2022
It is with very heavy hearts and incredible sorrow that my family shares the passing of our beloved mother, grandmother and great grandmother Sandra Lee Medearis who began her journey to the Palace of Angels above on New Year’s Eve December 31, 2022 at 7 p.m.
Sandra passed a week shy of her 82nd birthday with loved ones at her side in Panama City, Florida at a hospice care facility that was filled with compassion. Sandra’s body had simply worn out and began to shut down and she had recently been in excruciating pain as this process got underway and continued. During her final days Sandra had her two sons, Kevin and Uly Hall, who she adored and spent her life going to the moon and back for, at her bedside 24/7, in addition to her daughter-in-law Lisa Hall. At the time of her passing both sons held her hand and kissed her gently and reassured her she was loved immensely and talked about many, many wonderful memories shared together. Her pain was managed very well towards the end and she departed with compassion, dignity and the highest respect which she so deserved. Sandra was an incredible fighter right up to the final seconds and seemingly gave Mother Nature a very tough match and hung on at a level that left both family and medical staff in awe. Eventually the Gates of Heaven won out and called for her.
It is with great pride that we would like to touch on a few highlights (too many to list) that lend credence to the type of person Sandra was and what she accomplished.
Sandra hailed from a family without deep pockets. That did not stop her from finding a way to afford college and further her education. She worked so hard on her studies in high school that she was awarded an academic scholarship at the University of Washington in Seattle, WA, while also working full-time and raising her oldest son Kevin. She made the most of that. Earning a Bachelor’s degree in Latin and a Minor in French. She then went on and supplemented those degrees with a teaching credential. From there she went on to teach Latin, English and to serve as a guidance counselor at an inner city Jr. High School in Los Angeles, California.
During her time teaching in Los Angeles, Sandra was a favorite amongst fellow faculty and students alike. Also during that time she was determined to provide an enviable upbringing for her boys at Venice and Santa Monica Beach, California throughout the 1970s. Sandra made countless friends and was a fixture of the beach community. So much so she was asked on a date by Francis Ford Coppola (Director and Producer of the Godfather Movie Series w/ Al Pacino) and a handful of other Hollywood celebrities. However, Sandra knew her type and actually turned Francis down for the date, but she honestly admitted with laughter she did not know who he was at the time. In 1979 Sandra moved her family to Nome, Alaska another very unique place that she fell in love with.
While in Nome, Sandra taught Jr./Sr. High School, owned and operated a restaurant, worked as a talented reporter for The Nome Nugget and as a caring intake coordinator at the Emergency Room of the local hospital. In-between her years in Nome she ventured out and earned a Master’s Degree in Journalism and Broadcasting at the renowned Columbia University School of Journalism and Broadcasting in New York City. Nearing master’s graduation at
Columbia, Sandra’s big thesis interview was an interview with Jeff Bezos who told her during the interview of this great and crazy idea he had to sell books over the internet. That idea turned into the online Amazon that we all know today.
After earning her Master’s degree, Sandra went to work as an editor of multiple newspapers in Alaska and also the Baltic Times in Riga, Latvia and a short stint at a periodical magazine in Egypt. It is in Latvia where Sandra was gifted her big beastly gentle giant dogs Dio and Deah that the Nome community has grown to know.
Sandra was beating age and Father Time all the way up through 2019, working two jobs, living independently, still driving, traveling, and caring for herself and pets at the age of 79.
Unfortunately, in January of 2020 Sandra suffered an immense stroke that left her with compromised speech and severe neurological challenges. She was still extremely mentally sharp, but she was wheelchair ridden and in pain much of the time. Sandra worked incredibly hard and was determined to make a comeback and although the comeback was limited the effort she put in was incredibly inspirational and admirable. Sandra throughout her life - without waiver - was very dedicated to her family, friends and communities.
The family has plans for a summer Celebration of Life Potluck for Sandra this summer 2023. As Sandra cherished the summer months, the theme will be a potluck taking place in the countryside in the Nome area.
A formal obituary will be presented and shared at the Celebration of Life. The announcement will be forthcoming in late spring.