Deborah Taylor Sandlund, 50

GRANGEVILLE: Deborah Taylor Sandlund, 50, of Grangeville passed away Tuesday February 1, 2005, at Syringa General Hospital, after a long battle with leukemia. Deb was born December 24, 1954, in Ogden Utah, to Harry and Alice Taylor. During her illness Deb never gave up. She inspired her friends and family with her courage.

Deb attended Ogden public schools and graduated from Ben Lomond HS in 1973. She graduated with a degree in Forest Biology from Utah State University in 1979. During her Freshman year (1975) she met her future husband Bob Sandlund and they married in 1979. After graduation, Deb and Bob worked part time for the BLM, US Forest Service and the State of Utah. After moving to Salt Lake, Deb decided to change careers and pursue a career in teaching. She enrolled at Weber State University and completed her Secondary Education Degree in 1981 and her Elementary Education Degree in 1988. In 1981, they moved to Grangeville where Bob went to work with the Soil Conservation Service. While in Grangeville, Deb enrolled at the University of Idaho and completed her Masters degree in Education in 2000. Deb worked as a teaching aide for 7 years. She became a full time teacher at Grangeville Elementary in 1989. She taught for roughly 13 years until her illness made it impossible to continue. Deb loved to teach and genuinely enjoyed working with children. Deb had a passion for science and the arts and passed this on to her students. She touched the lives of many students.

Throughout her life, Deb was interested in a variety of activities. She had a lifelong love of arts and crafts and was always making something. She treasured the artwork created by her father and mother which filled the walls of their home. Before her illness, Deb and Bob enjoyed cross country skiing, bicycling, kayaking and a variety of other outdoor activities together. She loved to travel, read and make new friends. Deb loved dogs and was never far from one of their beloved Black Labrador retrievers.

The family would like to express a special thanks to Dr. Wayne Hollopeter for his guidance, support and friendship during Deb’s long illness. His dedication was a great source of strength for Deb. The family would also like to thank the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center and the staff of the Syringa General Hospital for their efforts on Deb’s behalf.

Deb is survived by her husband Bob, her mother Alice Taylor of Ogden Utah, her brother Paul Taylor of Nashville Tennessee and her sister Sally Jessop of Bow, Washington. She was preceded in death by her father.

A rosary will be held Thursday, February 3, 2005 at 7:00 p.m. at Sts. Peter and Paul Catholic Church, Grangeville. A memorial mass will be held at Sts. Peter and Paul Catholic Church at 2:30 p.m Friday, February 4, 2005. The Mass will be followed by a gathering in the school gymnasium. All are welcome to attend both the mass and the gathering. Services are under the direction of the Blackmer Funeral Home, Grangeville.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial donations to the Deborah Sandlund Memorial Fund at FirstBank Northwest 108 South Mill Street, Grangeville ID 83530.