Sandra M Kohl

September 30, 2023.

Sandi was born on March 6, 1943 in Pendleton, Oregon to William (Bill) and Wilma Maxwell, and spent her youth in the beautiful mountain valleys of northeastern Oregon. Sandi grew up with a love of horses and camping in the high mountains with her four‐legged companion Ginger.

In 1961, Sandi was named princess of the Chief Joseph Rodeo Court and graduated from Wallowa High

School the same year. She attended Washington State University, but her time studying Pharmacy at

WSU was cut short due to the introduction of a young man from Naches by mutual friends Gary and

Nancy Long. That introduction led to the beginning of a 59‐year marriage to her beloved husband Jim.

Married on June 7, 1964, Jim and Sandi spent their honeymoon living and working at the Timberwolf

Lookout through the summer of 1964. Their early years of marriage were spent living at the Tieton

Ranger Station where they met lifelong friends while Jim was working for the U.S. Forest Service.

In 1974 Jim and Sandi moved to Lower Naches to take over the family orchard business. Sandi devoted her time to helping Jim run and grow the third‐generation orchard operation while also raising their family. She provided the foundation for the family as Kristen was born in 1966, followed by Miles in

1970, spending countless hours as tutor, fundraiser for any and all activities the kids were involved in, and most especially as the number one fan for every band performance and sport the kids were involved in. Sandi made sure the family home was always open to the friends of Kristen and Miles, with many Saturday and Sunday mornings waking up to find the living room couches filled with basketball players in need of showers and a big family breakfast to fuel another day of games.

Once the kids moved on to college and careers, Sandi combined her passion for reading with starting a new career with the Yakima Valley Regional Library where she worked as the purchasing agent and enjoyed new friendships with her co‐workers.

With the arrival of her first grandson in 2001 (Dalton), and her second grandson in 2004 (Dylan), Sandi’s passion shifted to her grandsons who were truly the light of her life. Much time was spent in their youth with Grandma Sandi and her awesome cooking, most especially her homemade pies and desserts. As they grew older, there wasn’t a school event, basketball court or football field throughout the Yakima

Valley that she didn’t know from the countless games she attended.

Sandi and Jim shared many adventures together, but her favorite memories were made relaxing and reading while boating in the San Juan’s, camping along the American River, most especially Salmon Cove, and their cabin on the American River.

Sandi is survived by her husband Jim, daughter Kristen, son Miles (Julie), grandsons Dalton and Dylan, and her honorary son Matt Williams. She is preceded in death by her parents Bill and Wilma Maxwell.

A celebration of Sandi’s life will be held at Keith and Keith Funeral Home, 902 West Yakima Avenue, Yakima, on Thursday October 12, 2023, at 1:00 pm.

Memorial gifts can be made in Sandi’s name to the Yakima Humane Society, or any pet rescue of your choice, or the Gleed Fire Department Association.