Carol Jean Sanford

1946 - 2016

Carol Jean Sanford was born on March 24, 1946, in Duluth, Minn., and died on Sept. 23, 2016, in Nashville, Tenn. Carol met her husband, Gary, on a blind date in 1973, while visiting family in Anchorage, Alaska. Carol returned to her home in Duluth shortly thereafter. A few months later, Gary went to Duluth, where he proposed marriage and asked her to return to Anchorage with him. Carol accepted and they were married in June 1974, and spent the next 40 years living in Anchorage and Girdwood, Alaska. Carol loved her savior Jesus Christ and first served him as the temporary choir director at Christ Our Savior Lutheran Church in South Anchorage. In the early '80s, Carol and Gary moved to Girdwood, where Carol worked in the accounting department of the Alyeska Resort. While attending the Girdwood Community Church Carol learned their Pastor was leaving and that there was no one to replace him. She offered to preach Sunday sermons until a new pastor was found. She preached a sermon every Sunday for several months until a new pastor arrived. After eight years in Girdwood, Carol and Gary returned to Anchorage, so that Gary could be nearer to his job as General Manager of Moose Run Golf Course. It was at this time Carol became a member of First Presbyterian Church, Anchorage, where she eventually felt another calling from her Lord to become a Stephen Minister, calling on and assisting the sick and home bound. Her love of music led her to become a member of the Sweet Adeline's Chorus, Sourdough Chapter and a member of the award-winning Platinum Plus Quartet. While with the Sweet Adeline's, Carol had the opportunity to perform in many cities in Alaska, the Pacific Northwest as well as an opportunity to sing in London, England. Carol loved a good party, good friends, good times and playing a practical joke. She enjoyed naps, reading Christian books and longs lunches with friends or her husband. Over the past 42 years she has owned several dogs and cats, each of which holds a special place in her heart, as do all God's creatures. She especially enjoyed the two- and three-month vacations she and Gary were able to take in Destin, Fla., each winter. Of course a four- or five-day trip a couple of times per year to Seattle, Wash., or San Francisco, Calif., was always a special treat. Carol was preceded in death by her mother and father, Helen and Lynn Durocher, and by her sister Dorothy Mossey. She is survived by her loving husband, Gary; two children, Audrey Sanford of Wasilla, Alaska, and Jerry Sanford (Carol) of Vacaville, Calif.; five grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren; as well as a niece and many nephews, particularly David Kyles of Franklin, Tenn., Julian Mossey of Tulsa, Okla., and Michelle Swenson (Chad) of Grantsburg, Wis.; her brother, Lynn Durocher Jr.; her sister, Yvonne Chiovitte of Boise, Idaho; and lifelong best friend, Pam Nelson (Jack) of Roswell, Ga.; her forever friend, Barb Hagen (Larry) of Anchorage; and close friend Sherry Nelson (Tom) of Anchorage. Her husband, Gary, shares: "I was fortunate that the Lord blessed me with Carols boundless love for 42 years. She is now where she deserves to be, in the arms of her Lord." We hope she is now "knocking one back" with her sister, Dorothy. She will be missed by all who knew her.