Stanley "Sandy" M. Sanderson, 76

Stanley McNaughton Sanderson, known to all as Sandy, died peacefully Sunday, Oct. 11, 2026, with his wife, Holladay, by his side. Sandy was born March 15, 1950, in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, to Herbert Stanley Sanderson and his wife, Frances Jean McNaughton Sanderson. His sister, Mary, joined him 1¾ years later.

Sandy and Mary had an idyllic childhood in the Sanders Beach neighborhood. Grandparents Mame and Judge McNaughton lived next door. The “hood” had wonderful families, and the beach and Tubbs Hill were playgrounds. Dr. Fox’s empty lots were the softball field. Time was calculated from mill whistles.

Sandy attended Harding Elementary School and knew every shortcut for walks or bicycle trips. He graduated from Coeur d’Alene High School in 1969. Sandy loved his schoolmates and was always eager to help with reunions. While in school, he was active with DECA and started his first job with Leader Printing. Sandy became friends with businesses all over town while delivering letterhead. He later attended North Idaho College and the University of Idaho, where he took business classes. He began working at Dingle’s Hardware under Carter Crimp. Sandy later worked at Harvey’s Men’s Store and somewhere along the line became a partner in a “head” shop. Eventually he returned to Dingle’s and became one of the folks who knew about “everything in the store.” He was also one of their best customers, especially buying gifts for friends and family at Clara’s Corner.

During this time, he also became known as the sound-and-lights guy, volunteering and helping with all kinds of events and theater. Through his involvement in theater, he met Holladay Worth, a recent arrival to Coeur d’Alene in 1981. They became one of the many Coeur d’Alene Summer Theater couples when they married July 2, 1984.

Sandy enjoyed setting up audio for all kinds of city events, including for the library, Rotary, dedications and reunions. He always wanted to volunteer his time and efforts for free, supplying his own equipment. He simply loved helping.

In the 1990s, Sandy’s long avocation in electrical work became his vocation as an electrician. He trained at NIC in the Electrical Apprentice program. He was known as a “people person” and was beloved by all his clients, but especially by elderly folks, all of his sister’s friends, and most everyone in town. If he didn’t know how to fix something, he knew who did.

While Holladay was working out of town as an Episcopal priest, Sandy developed quite a cadre of guy friends. He and the guys spent a great deal of time solving problems at the Iron Horse and the Moose Lounge. They also did quite a bit of traveling and exploring in the Northwest. There were also grand times spent with friends at the Potts cabin on Bennett Bay on Lake Coeur d’Alene. When Holladay retired, Sandy and she enjoyed spending precious time together in North Idaho, especially at the float home they shared with Mary in Bayview.

Sandy’s friends ranged widely — from all his various jobs, theater undertakings, and his hundreds of clients who came to rely on his expertise, reliability and honesty as an electrician. His knowledge of Coeur d’Alene and its history was amazing. He seemed to know the layout of every building downtown. In his last few months, he loved reminiscing with old friends and even sending some on assignment to find out more about some aspect of history. There will be a million times we will wish we could ask Sandy about something. He will be missed and very dearly remembered by all of his family and friends.    

Sandy is survived by his wife, Holladay; his sister, Mary (Neil Nemec); his cousin, Bill Greene (Shirley); Helen Elder, widow of his cousin, Jim Elder; and three nephews and a niece, whom he and Holladay came to regard as their own children: Hal Worth IV, Kelly W. Mitchell, Fred Ray III and Graham Ray.

Sandy’s Memorial Service will be at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church on Tuesday, Oct. 27, 2026, at 2 p.m. Yates Funeral Home is handling the arrangements.

There will also be a casual celebration of his life at his favorite watering hole, the Iron Horse, on Monday, Nov. 2, 2026, at 3:30 p.m. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the Stanley McNaughton Sanderson Scholarship for Electrical Apprentices through the NIC Foundation; the Stanley McNaughton Sanderson Scholarship through the Greater Coeur d’Alene Community Foundation; and St. Luke’s Episcopal Church.

Please visit Sandy’s online guestbook at www.yatesfuneralhomes.com.