Sandra Ann Stites

Sandra Ann ( Gastineau ) Stites 79, passed away at home with Rich, Carrie, Jerry and her best friend Shawn by her side on January 1, 2025, in Allyn, Washington. Sandra was born to Jerry and Betty ( Kelker ) Gastineau on August 27, 1945, in Bremerton, Washington. She was raised in Port Orchard and attended local schools, graduating from South Kitsap HS in 1963. Other than briefly living in Seattle and Tacoma Sandy spent her entire life in Port Orchard or Allyn.


Sandy had two children, Carrie was born in 1968 and Jerry in 1970. While working at the Belfair Thriftway grocery store in 1984 she met the love of her life Richard Stites. They were married in February of 1988. Sandy had her two children and Rich brought a daughter Melanie and son Aaron into the marriage. Starting in 1986 they made the Gastineau family cabin on Wye Lake their home for 5 wonderful years. For the last 33 they have lived in Allyn.


I was blessed to have spent the past 38 plus years with my best friend and wife, Sandy Gastineau Stites. In February 2023 we celebrated 35 years of marriage by taking a 10-day trip to places we had visited many times. We didn’t go to Europe, Hawaii, Arizona, California or any other warm place. We stayed in the Pacific Northwest, a region of our country Sandy truly loved. We celebrated our 35th anniversary supper with my brother Glenn and his wife Bonnie in Coeur d ‘ Alene, Idaho. We visited our grandson Christian in Pullman who is a starting lineman on the WSU football team. We also met his girlfriend Tannith. We felt so fortunate to spend a day with them. We spent a night in The Dalles, Oregon. Then it was off to see our daughter Melanie in Forest Grove and two of our grandsons Jacob and Tyler. We spent the last few days of our trip in Cannon Beach where we had built many memories over the years. One of the hospice nurses asked Sandy what trip she had been on that stood out to her. Without hesitation she said our 35th anniversary vacation.


Sandy was diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukemia on December 2nd. We only had one month left together but the month was packed full of love and support from family and friends coming to visit Sandy. Carrie and I were wondering if we had known at the beginning of 2024 that Sandy had a fatal cancer if we would have done anything differently. The answer is no. 2024 was a wonderful year of seeing the people and doing the things she loved. Going back to the fall of 2023 we saw our youngest grandson Garcia enlist in the Army. Our oldest granddaughter Krysta, who is a Captain in the Army, took command of a company. Christian came to visit in early January. Rhett came from Illinois to visit for 8 days. February and March were spent working on our family trees. The end of March we left for San Antonio to see Garcia graduate from combat medic school. Our son Aaron and his wife Jesse were also there. We had a wonderful 4 days with family. April and May were busy getting the yard and garden ready for the summer. June, July and August we spent many days enjoying our patio and backyard. Our son Jerry came in mid-August to do some work on our house. We enjoyed having him here for 5 weeks. There was an August Gastineau family get together. Sandy was able to spend an afternoon with her brothers, Jim and Mike, along with their wives’ children and grandchildren. September brought the Apple Cup football game to Seattle. Jerry, Cody and Caden stayed with us so they could watch Christian play in the game. In October we took a two-week trip to Fulton, Illinois to see our daughter Carrie and her husband Jim. Rhett came to visit in November, his second trip to see us this year. In December Carrie, Jerry, Melanie and Aaron all came to visit us. During the past 13 months we saw 9 or our 10 grandchildren. We spent many hours with Jim, Helen, Mike and Shirley. We tried to have a monthly get together with my sister Carol and her husband Ken. My brother George came to visit in December. Can I think of one thing Sandy and I would have changed, and the answer is a resounding no! We loved every minute spending time with our family and friends.


Sandy’s biggest enjoyment in life was her family. She loved hosting Christmas dinner for many years. We will all miss her laughter at family gatherings. We will also miss the handmade items she gave to us.
Sandy had many hobbies including genealogy, gardening, drying and pressing flowers, rock hunting and searching for sea glass on any beach she could find, cross stitching, backyard birds and keeping the bees happy with plenty of flowers to pollinate. Her special beaches were Rialto, Ruby and beach one at La Push. Sandy and Rich also enjoyed the Oregon Coast. Her daughter Carrie lives in Illinois and Sandy loved exploring the different towns along the Mississippi River.


During December so many people gave us love and support. Carrie was with Sandy and I constantly. She not only helped with Sandy but kept me grounded and took charge of the house. Jerry lives in Salem, but he was here as much as possible always helping wherever he was needed. Words do not begin to express how much I appreciate everything they did for Sandy and myself. Sandy’s best friend Shawn was so supportive and showed us so much love. What a wonderful friend to have. I also want to thank all of you who came to visit in person, called on the phone, sent a text or email. Sandy and I appreciate each and every one of you. The hospice staff who came here or who I spoke with on the phone were a great help, thank you all.


Sandy is survived by her husband Rich, daughter Carrie ( Jimmy Walters ), son Jerry, daughter Melanie and son Aaron ( Jesse ), 10 grandchildren, Krysta, Vincent, Cody, Jacob, Rhett, Caden, Tyler, Christian, Baylee, Garcia, brothers Jim ( Helen ), Mike ( Shirley ) and numerous nieces and nephews.
She was predeceased in death by her parents Jerry and Betty Gastineau and sister Susan Ellingson.
Inurnment will be at Washington Veterans Cemetery in Medical Lake, WA. in April. We will have a gathering for family and friends in the summer.


Even though we no longer had a pet Sandy loved dogs or cats. In lieu of flowers please donate to the Humane Society of Mason County in Belfair. You can donate in Sandy’s name on their website. The website address is www.hsmcwa.org