Sandra Hargrove

Sandra Elizabeth Long Hargrove (12/19/1946- 07/20/2025). Father was Richard Franklin Long, a Pennsylvania German from Reading, PA. and prod of his 82nd Airborne service during WWII. Mother was Mary Lillian Snaders from the Wiregrass County of Henry County Alabama. Survived by husband of 57 years, Lynn Dorsey Hargrove, sister Pamela Andrea Oberle, niece Erica Oberle, and grandniece Ayla Oberle of California; brother -in-law Gary Hargrove of New Mexico and his tow children Renee and Scott.

Sandy’s immediate family was among the first to settle in the newll developed Park Hill Neighborhood in East Denver following World War II. She attended Phillips Elementary, Smiley Junior High 9where she was enrolled in a new Science & Math program) , and East High Schools in Denver. History became her real love and following graduation she attended CSU to earn a BA in History. This was followed by an MA in Asian Studies at CSU and 8+ credits toward and a 2nd MA at the University of Colorado in boulder in Archaeology/Anthropology.

She taught in Public Schools in Fort Collins for nearly 30 years at Poudre High and Blevins Junior High. “When people heard I taught Junior High they always shook their heads in sympathy , but I found that group a lot of fun to teach!”

Sandy retired in 2002. During retirement she learned to play the violin, traveled extensively around the world with her husband, Lynn; joined the Longs Peak DAR in Longmont; joined St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church when Rev. Max Bailey was Rector; and was a member of Longmont’s Writers Club. Over the next 20+ years she wrote, and self-published about 30 history books on Amazon/Kindle which included several books on English Romantic Artist Florence Harrison and her master mariner father Captain Norwood Harrison; Maa Mexico Jewelry; Carselle Mexican Dolls; Hawaiian Makaleka Dolls; History of John Akinori Oya carved wood perfume bottles; Irish Jay of Dulin Dolls; several family histories; books on Longmont History and Berthoud History. A self-styled “Investigate Hisorian”, she was inspired to write histories of things she collected and solved several history mysteries. “I did not write books to make money but to solve historical mysteries. My greatest joy was being contacted by friends and relatives of people I wrote about!”

Sadly in 2024 at age 77, Sandy learned that she had Non-Hodgkin’s Large B-Cell Lymphoma which led to her death. At 78 she still had a good attitude and was grateful for a very happy life with her beloved Lynn.

Graveside Service will be held on August 2, 2025, 9 am, Foothills Gardens of memory, 14241 North 107th Street, Longmont, Colorado 80504.