Doris Lorraine Summerfelt Sands
Doris Lorraine Summerfelt Sands was born in Culver City, California on December 8, 1927.
She was the second child of John Summerfelt and Elma Blondefield Summerfelt.
The family moved to Inglewood when Doris was very young. She attended Inglewood High School where she met the love of her life Ted Sands. They both graduated in 1945. Doris and Ted were married in March of 1948 after Ted returned home from his Army service in South Korea. They had six children. Doris went to be with the Lord on September 27, 2025. She was 97 years old.
Doris was a busy and dedicated housewife and mother. She was a Cub Scout leader, a Brownie leader, and a children’s Sunday School teacher. She served as a Vacation Bible School director, a deaconess, and as a member of the church building committee. Doris’s faith in Christ was central in her life and family.
Doris and Ted moved the family to Santa Barbara in 1975 where he began Sands and Associates, a consulting business specializing in the bottled water industry. Doris was his administrative assistant and ran the office with grace and efficiency. Ted traveled the world with his business and Doris occasionally accompanied him.
Doris and Ted opened their home to friends of their children who needed a place to stay due to family situations. Each friend was loved and made to feel like a member of the family. They also hosted an exchange student from Brazil, Marcia, who is still like a family member.
Doris and Ted loved to entertain in their home. Christmas, Easter, Thanksgiving and birthdays were celebrated with the entire family. The house was always decorated for the occasion and the table was beautifully set. Later in life they hosted several dinner parties for their friends from Goleta Valley Church.
Doris enjoyed many hobbies over the years including sewing, embroidery, reading historical novels, crossword puzzles, Jumble word puzzles, and sudoku.
Doris was devoted to her family, including her husband of 71 years, their 6 children, their spouses, 11 grandchildren and their spouses, and 10 great grandchildren.
Doris was preceded in death by her husband Ted, her parents John and Elma Summerfelt, her brother Richard Summerfelt, her son Christopher, and her son-in- law
Doug.
She is survived by her daughters Janet, Elaine (TJ), Lori (Mike), Katie (David), Heather (Mike) and daughter-in-law Cherie as well as her grandchildren, Greg (Vanessa), Rebecca (Ryan), Melissa (Chad), William (Lynda), Stephen, Rachel (Matt), Lauren (Zack), Timothy, Theodore (Mary Rae), Elise, Mary (Jared), and her great grandchildren, Brody, Logan, Otto, Opal, Addelyn, Liam, Phoenix, Emily, Rosabelle and McKenna.
A memorial service will be held at the Maravilla Clubhouse, 5500 Calle Real, Santa Barbara, CA on Thursday, October 9 at noon.
