Sandra "Sandy" Carolyn Peterson

Sandra Carolyn Peterson, ”Sandy,” born on January 29th 1943 in Texarkana, TX passed away peacefully on March 11, 2026, surrounded by family. She had been battling cancer for several years.

Sandy graduated from the University of Houston with a BS in Education & quickly moved to California. She was a 1st grade teacher for many years in California, teaching many Spanish speaking children their first words in English. She had two daughters, Leesa Perlas & Gayle Henry, from her first marriage to Peter Henry, who was manager of Silverado Country Club in Napa during the 1960s. Later, after moving to Monterey, she met the “love of her life” winemaker Dr Richard G. “Dick” Peterson in 1980 and they were happily married for 45 years.

She loved aerobic dancing, but her first love was reading. In her life she read literally thousands of books. The highlight of Sandy’s life was the 25 years she and Dick spent running the Peterson Family Christmas Tree Farm on Darms Lane just north of Napa.

She is predeceased by her two sisters and her daughter Leesa, whom she hopes to reconnect with in a later life somewhere in the universe with Dick who is an amateur astronomer.

She is survived by her husband Dick, daughter Gayle Henry, step-daughters winemaker Heidi Barrett & chef Holly Peterson and grandchildren Remi & Chelsea Barrett and their families.

Here in Napa, she was a member of the Symphony League for many years, as well as PEO. She also enjoyed belonging to both her Mahjong group & book club.

A Celebration of Life will be held in a future TBD.

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