Sandra "Sandy" Jones Miller

Sandra "Sandy" Jones Miller, a loving mother, grandmother, sister, aunt, and friend, passed away peacefully on Monday, July 27, 2026, with her family by her side.

Born on March 24, 1942, and raised in Bay City, Michigan, Sandy was the third of four children born to William A. Jones V and Delena M. (Rabidoux) Jones. She attended St. Boniface Grade School, St. Joseph High School, and Delta Junior College. The strong values she learned from her close-knit family, combined with her Catholic faith, provided the foundation for a life defined by compassion, service, and unwavering devotion to family and friends.

In 1968, she moved to California from the Midwest, and in 1974 she settled in San Rafael. She proudly called Marin County home for more than five decades.

Above all else, Sandy cherished her family. Nothing made her happier than spending time with her daughter, Susannah, her son, Tom, and her five beloved grandchildren. Whether discovering a new park, visiting a museum or zoo, or simply enjoying an afternoon together, she delighted in creating memories they will treasure forever.

Sandy was best known among family and friends for her dry wit and infectious sense of humor. She had an extraordinary gift for making people laugh until they cried, bringing joy to every gathering she attended.

Sandy also treasured her many lifelong friendships. She maintained close bonds with childhood friends from Michigan, developed lasting friendships with fellow parents during her children's school years, and continued making dear friends through volunteer organizations, the communities where she lived, and the many activities that enriched her life.

Throughout her life, Sandy was deeply committed to serving others. While working in the legal profession, she volunteered with CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates), providing a caring voice and steadfast support for children in the juvenile court system. She later served as a California Senior Senator and on the Marin County Commission on Aging, advocating for older adults and their families through legislative initiatives. A longtime resident of the Dominican neighborhood in San Rafael, she was an active member of the Dominican Black Canyon Neighborhood Association, always working to strengthen the community she loved. Most recently, she enjoyed volunteering with the San Francisco Symphony.

Sandy also enjoyed her work in the newsroom at the Marin Independent Journal. She especially loved interviewing members of the community for her weekly Marinview question-and-answer column, taking a genuine interest in people's stories and making meaningful connections wherever she went.

An adventurous spirit, Sandy loved to travel and explore the world. Her journeys took her to Argentina, Bulgaria, Turkey, China, Japan, Italy, France, England, Mexico, Jamaica, and countless destinations throughout the United States. Yet one of her favorite places was always her family's summertime cabin at Higgins Lake in northern Michigan, where she delighted in bringing generations of family together to enjoy the beauty of her childhood home away from home.

Sandy was also an exceptional cook whose meals reflected both her Midwestern roots and her adopted California home. Family and friends always felt welcome around her table.

She was always planning her next adventure with family and friends. Whether attending performances at local theaters, enjoying Marin Symphony concerts, exploring Marin County's creeks during salmon spawning season, hiking with friends, or simply spending a day shopping with her beloved sister, Sandy embraced life with enthusiasm and curiosity.

In her final years, Sandy found comfort, companionship, and kindness at Atria Tamalpais Creek. Her family is deeply grateful to the dedicated caregivers and staff who treated her with compassion, dignity, and respect, as well as to the many friends she made there whose laughter, conversation, and companionship brightened her days.

Sandy is survived by her daughter, Susannah Miller of Carmel, Indiana, and son-in-law, Geoff Peate, and grandchildren, Karina, Owen, and Colin; her son, Tom Miller Jr. of Corte Madera, California, and his partner, Cindy Dickeson, and grandchildren, Quinn and Nico; her sister, Sharon Pike of Bay City, Michigan; her brother, William Jones VI of Bay City, Michigan; and many loving nieces, nephews, extended family members, and dear friends whose lives were enriched by her kindness, humor, and generous spirit. Sandy was preceded in death by her parents, her brother, Robert B. Jones, and sisters-in-law, Tamara "Sue" Jones and Myrna Jones.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in Sandy's honor to St. Vincent's School for Boys through the Godmothers organization or to MarinArts

Sandy's legacy lives on in the countless lives she touched. She will be deeply missed and forever remembered. Services are pending and will be held in her hometown of Bay City, Michigan.

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