Deborah Ann Lande Sandvig

Deborah Ann Lande Sandvig died July 26, 2016, in Seattle, Washington, after a short battle with cancer.

Debbie was born in Seattle on August 3, 1953, the eldest of five children of Robert and Mary Ann Lande, and grew up on the Lande Farm on Vashon Island. She attended Vashon schools where as a high school student she was very involved in drama and had the lead in many plays.

Debbie graduated early from Vashon High School in March of 1971, and moved to Seattle where she went to work for the National Bank of Commerce as a messenger. She stayed with banking until 1991. Next, she was recruited to “help out” at her sister’s design firm, Sechrist Design Associates, and was there for 23 years as Office and Finance Manager.

In 1973 Debbie married her high school sweetheart, Warren Sandvig, and they moved to Germany where he served in the U.S. Army. In 1975, they returned to West Seattle and in 1977 had a son, Gary, who was the joy of her life. She was a vocal fan at every one of Gary’s baseball and soccer games, and she loved taking him and his friends on camping trips.

Travel was a prime interest, and everywhere Debbie went, she made friends and kept them. Puzzles and games of all kinds were some of her favorite things, as well as gardening, reading, watching cooking shows on TV, and her Shih Tzu, Stitch. Modest and kind, with a megawatt smile, Debbie enjoyed the simple things in life and was happiest when she could watch other people being happy. She loved special occasions and parties, and you could always depend on Debbie the Hors’deurves Queen to whip up some scrumptious appetizers.

Debbie is survived by her son Gary Sandvig, his wife Renee and grandchildren Ana and Jesse Perez-Frias, all of Normandy Park; her father and stepmother, Robert and Darline Lande of Vashon Island; her sister Melinda Sechrist (Mike), Seattle; her brothers Bob Lande of Long Beach, California, and Michael Lande (Katrina) of Vashon; numerous nephews and nieces; and her beloved dog, Stitch. Debbie’s mother, Mary Ann Lande, and her sister, Lorrie Niles, predeceased her.

A funeral Mass will be held Thursday, August 18, at 1 p.m. at St. John Vianney Catholic Church on Vashon Island, Washington. In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to the American Cancer Society or the Highline Medical Foundation Comfort Cart.