Sandy Lee Hale

February 2, 1970 - January 3, 2015

Sandy Lee Hale, proud mom (Derek Doeppke), lover of nature and animals, and the collector of any rock that caught her eye died unexpectedly on January 3, 2015 (her brain betrayed her yet again).Sandy was born and raised in Boulder CO by Tom and Carolyn Hale and was lovingly known as “the Beast”. She was the baby and could do no wrong (which she liked to remind us of most often). She liked to spend time torturing her older sisters, Chere Hurley and Missy Griggs and often would take them down in Monopoly or thumb wars. Sandy was the athletic one of the bunch even competing in a jump-roping competition with a cast on her leg. She was forever riding her bike in the “hood” with her Bestie Sarah. Her older sisters taught her the finer things in life, such as catching ants on fire with a magnify glass and riding down the stairs in a sleeping bag without damaging the wall. And no one will ever forget the infamous fingernail fire and the resulting “fingernail fire extinguisher kit” proudly given to Sandy by her Dad.Sandy passed through Northglenn CO obtaining her HS Diploma and landed briefly in Ft. Collins, CO, where the twinkle of her eye was born. In the mid-90s Sandy journeyed to Gunnison CO with her son and soulmate to escape the ever growing Denver, CO. She worked a variety of jobs but was always happiest being with her family, which included Dog (dog) and Buddy (cat) who both left on their spirit journeys years ago. Sandy loved being Derek\\'s mom, spending time with her friends and family (which included 5 nephews), completing jigsaw puzzles with her mom, playing board games (the competitor in her never ceased) and finding arrowheads in the countryside. Sandy was an amateur photographer (with her cell phone), musician (clarinet, flute, piano and self-taught on the mountain dulcimer) and dabbled in pottery and drawing (the artist in her came from her Dad and Mom).As Sandy found great comfort in nature, her family will send her off to the Great Beyond on her journey forward this spring in the outdoors she loved.Additional photos of Sandy can been found on Facebook under Sandy Lee Hale.Donations may be made to the Crested Butte Adaptive Sports Center at 866-349-2296 or www.adaptivesports.org/ . Sandy had a disabling stroke in 2007 and it would gladden her heart to know this Center is being supported.Final note from Sandy: “I will be the first blossom you see in spring; the warm rain April will bring; I’m the ray of light when the sun shines, know that I am with you and will always be.” Anonymous.