Sandra Mae King Hall OBITUARY
Sandra Mae King was born May 8, 1947 (exactly two years after sister Victoria-VE Day 1945) in Fresno, a beloved mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and wife, passed away peacefully on Sunday, September 15, 2024, surrounded by multiple family members. Parents Albert and Jean King, Sandra was their eleventh of twelve children. She is preceded in death by her parents; brothers; James, Eugene, Patrick, Dennis, Michael, Thomas, and Harold King; sisters: Rosemary Motta, Elizabeth Dake, Dorris Claytor, and Victoria Hanning; and her grandchild, Andrew.
Sandra attended St. Therese School, graduating from San Joaquin Memorial High School in Fresno. Her lifelong friendships which began in third grade, and throughout high school remained actively treasured.
Sandra married Doug Nicol in 1966, daughter Janene L. Nicol was born in 1967, son Michael Clayton Nicol in 1969. The marriage ended in 1973.
Sandra, The Matriarch, is survived by her loving husband of 44 years, Frank Hall; her children, Janene Sides (David) and Michael Nicol (Christina); her grandchildren, Robert (Kaitlyn), Christina, Daniel, Sarah, and Madisen; her great-grandchildren, Quinn, Soleil, and Elijah; and numerous nieces, nephews, and surrogate family members who knew and cherished her as "Nana."
She lived her life by the Golden Rule, and the guiding principle, "The more you love, the bigger you are."
Sandra was a life-long entrepreneur. She and her husband owned a newspaper distributorship serving the Pleasant Hill/Martinez area which Sandra operated from 1977 to 2009, as well as real estate investments and property management endeavors.
Sandra's remarkable business achievements earned her widespread recognition. In 1986, she was honored to serve as Congressman George Miller's delegate at the prestigious White House Conference on Small Business. The same year, she was the nominee of the Business Person of the Year by the Pleasant Hill Chamber of Commerce. Her dedication and excellence in her field were further acknowledged in 2010 when she received the esteemed American Association of Independent News Distributors (AAIND) award.
Sandra's love for singing and dancing were lifelong passions, deeply rooted in the international folk dances taught to her by her mother. She spent decades in choirs and folk dance groups, where her voice became a cherished part of countless performances. Sandra's joy for music and dance was evident throughout her entire life, as she sang and danced with a spirit that inspired all who knew her.
She loved to travel, and learn, was a voracious reader, and had a remarkable memory, being able to recall names, dates, and details about almost anything she had encountered. She was an excellent storyteller and public speaker, serving as the MC for events over the course of her lifetime. She had an amazing sense of humor and a knack for making people laugh effortlessly. For decades, she tirelessly gave of her time and service to charitable causes, including the Kiwanis Club of Martinez, the St. Catherine of Siena parish, and the Boys and Girls Club of Martinez. Most recently L'Arche. No matter the storms she encountered, she possessed an innate ability to find and focus on the silver lining.
A devoutly spiritual person, Sandra's life was defined by her unwavering love for her family, friends, all humans and her dedication to spiritual faith.
A Mass at 11:00 AM, November 22, 2024, will be held at Christ The King, Pleasant Hill, Ca. A Celebration of Life will be held in her honor on November 23, 2024, at 1:00 PM at the First Congregational Church of Martinez, located at 1229 Court St, Martinez, CA 94553.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to: FOOD BANKS or Martinez Kiwanis, P.O. Box 1886, Martinez, CA 94553 or San Joaquin Memorial High School, 146 N. Fresno St, Fresno, CA 93793 or Planned Parenthood:
