Sandra Lee McArthur

10/28/53 – 5/9/24

Sandi was born in Detroit.

In 1958, the family moved to Leland where she grew up at the Leelanau Lodge on N. Lake Leelanau and went to school in Leland.

In 1970, the family moved to Traverse City where she graduated from Traverse City Central.

She became an RN at Bronson Hospital and then joined the Peace Corps, where she was stationed in Colombia.

After the Peace Corps, she moved to St. Paul, MN, worked for the Red Cross on the Blood Mobile, and met Jeff Anderson. They married, moved back to Michigan, and lived in the suburbs of Peshawbestown. She worked as a home health care nurse and later managed the Migrant Health Clinic. Afterward, she worked at Oryana Food Coop, combining her nursing knowledge with the importance of organic food, eventually becoming the Education and Outreach Coordinator.

In 2000, she and Jeff joined Telford Farm, an intentional community in Cedar, and built a small home. After twenty years at Oryana, Sandi semi-retired and worked her dream job at Brilliant Books.

Many who knew Sandi would share that she was the conscience of Oryana Food Co-op, speaking her mind with courage, kindness and respect. Customer service was her mantra. She always championed the underdog. When Sandi faced hard times, she would say: “I just have to buck up.” When she gave her opinion, she often said, “That’s my story, and I’m sticking to it!”

She had a wonderful sense of humor, sometimes silly, but that’s why her nephews, nieces, and grandnieces loved her.

She volunteered many hours at the Northern Michigan Environmental Action Council, Neahtawanta Research and Education Center, Oryana, and Food Rescue. She loved hiking, spending time on the beach, and observing nature.

Sandi died after a 4-year struggle with ovarian cancer. It was fitting that as she passed, a swarm of honeybees came to the house and settled in the trees outside her window.

Sandi was pre-deceased by her parents, Jim and Dena McArthur, and her oldest nephew, Tommy Wheeler. She is survived by her brothers David, Eric (Nancy), Daniel, her sister Janice (Dale Hunt), and her husband Jeff. She also left behind her nieces Kristin, Erin, and nephews Marc (Tonya), Brandon, Courtney, Linton, Lee, Jackson, Ian, Liam, Noah, and her farm family at Telford Farm.

She loved us all deeply, and we will miss her so much. A potluck memorial is planned for September 14 at 3pm at Telford Farm.