Sally Bird

1957 - 2018

Sally Bird

Visalia - Sally Noreen Bird ( nee Chamberlin) passed to God's Glory and rest on February 11, 2018. She survived 2 years 9 months after a cancer diagnosis. She was born in Weiser, Idaho on April 9, 1957, third child of T.O. and Lois Chamberlin. Sally moved to Visalia, California with her family in 1958 settling on the east side of Visalia on her family's walnut orchard and ranch. She grew up attending Mineral King elementary school, finishing her education at the elementary level at Saint Paul's Episcopal School in 1971. She graduated from Redwood High School in 1975, graduated from College of the Sequoias 1981, Graduated from CSU-Fresno in 1985 with a Bachelor of Arts- Special Major in Fabric and Theatre. She worked for several restaurants in Visalia while honing her sewing skills on her way to completing her BA. Sally Candy - Striped at Kaweah District Hospital while in high school, giving 748 hours service time to her community. She was also involved in various community theater efforts throughout her time at C.O.S. Including the Shakespeare Festival and the Visalia Ice House and the C.O.S. Theatre Arts Program. After leaving Visalia for Fresno State, She worked on her degree at the Fresno State Theatre Arts Program, pursuing costume design skills that propelled her to working for an Equity Theater on the East Coast , Theatre by The Sea in Portsmouth, New Hampshire in 1985. She also worked for the Theater at Monmouth, in the town of Monmouth, Maine during the 1986 summer season, the VOCAL Opera League of Seacoast New Hampshire, and upon her return to Visalia, The Ice House Players, Mount Whitney High School Theater, the C.O.S. Theater Department Costume Shop as her children wended their way through school. Her most recent achievement was her work with the children of Saint John's Children's Learning Center, Saint John's Episcopal Church, Tulare, CA where she faithfully worked for five years.

She was faithful to Jesus in everything she did. Love is Sally's greatest asset. She met the love of her life, William Brewster Bird at Saint John's Episcopal Church, Portsmouth, NH. January 11, 1986. Married in December 1987 at Saint Paul's Episcopal Church, Visalia, CA she celebrated 30 years of marriage,31 Thanksgivings, 31 Christmases, 31 Valentine's Days, 31 Ash Wednesdays, 31 Good Fridays, 31 Easters, 31 birthdays and 32 Super Bowls with Brewster.

She is survived by Brewster, her sons Peter and James Bird, Brother Tom Chamberlin Jr., Sister Rev. Suzanne (Chamberlin ) Ward, Suzy's husband, Jon Ward, Nephews James and Jon- Ethan Ward and their wives. Her parents predeceased her.

" A Memorial event for Sally will be held on her birthday, April 9 at Saint John's Children Learning Center, 1701 East Prosperity Avenue, Tulare, CA at 10:30 am. "

Tributes and condolences may be made at www.millerchapel.com.