Frank Smither Sandford

Frank Smithers Sandford, 82 Frank Sandford was born on Feb 21, 1940 to George and Zelma Sandford. He passed away with his family by his side on Mar 4, 2022. He was preceded in death by his parents and three siblings, Harold Sandford, Martha Kinney and by his greatest friend and mentor- brother John Sandford. Frank married the love of his life Kaye in 1962. Frank then taught high school history in Joplin, Missouri. During summers he was an umpire for softball and baseball. In 1974 he moved his family to Coeur d’Alene to be near the mountains and his beloved brother, John. He worked at the Bunker Hill Mines until they closed. Frank and his wife Kaye were foster parents to over 100 foster kids spanning over several years. In 1998 they moved to Coulee Dam, WA and Frank worked alongside his daughter and grandkids in the grocery store. They then spent a few years in Ephrata, WA before moving to Spokane in 2002. In 2016 they moved to Post Falls to be near their 2 daughters and grandkids. Frank had Four Great Loves in his life- His Faith in God, His Family, His Osage Heritage and his Seattle Mariners. God was always first in his life and his greatest achievement was teaching his Family to Love God. His family was everything to him. He was at every family gathering … usually an hour early! He was very proud of his Osage heritage and he passed that pride on to every member of the Family. He loved everything baseball and especially the Seattle Mariners. He watched every game and never wavered in his hope that “this will be the year!” He spent many summer days watching his grandkids and great grandkids play baseball. He was their biggest fan. From 1977-1980 Frank oversaw and organized the Muscular Dystrophy Telethon for the Coeur d’Alene Area. He stayed up 24 hours and answered phones raising money for “Jerrys Kids” from their headquarters at the local Mcdonalds. His final year he actually spoke to Jerry Lewis on the phone during the televised marathon. In his early teens his mother owned a Yarn Shop. When his mother didn’t have time to knit the sweater he wanted he taught himself to knit. He was phenomenal at knitting and everyone that he knew had a sweater made by him. He later took up cross-stitch and began making Christman stockings for every Family member. Over the last few years he worked very hard so he could leave behind a stockpile of his cross-stitch stockings for the next generation. They are our Families most cherished possessions. He often joked he had no idea what he was getting himself into some 30 years ago when he started this tradition. Next Christmas, we will all hang our stockings and think of him. Frank was a big man standing 6’6” tall. He often talked about which of his Four grandson’s would match his height. No one did but they proudly stood beside him at nearly evert gathering to see how close they were. Frank was the King of “dad jokes” and would do almost anything to get a smile or laugh from his great grandkids. He and his wife took their grandkids two at a time on a summer vacation with them every year. He loved ice cream and loved that his grandkids were a great excuse to get ice cream! Frank is survived by his wife Kaye, His Four children, Tonya (Rob) Smith, Jodi (Eric) Rawlins, Brent Sandford, Shawna (Ed) Bluemer, 10 grandkids and 18 great grandkids. We would like to sincerely thank Hospice House for their incredible compassion and care as we sent this wonderful man on his final journey. Franks Celebration of Life will be Apr 8 2022 at 3:00 P.M. at Heart of the City Church.