With gratitude for a life fully lived, Sarah Curlett MacLeod (Sally) passed away peacefully surrounded by her loving family on November 8, 2022.
Sally is survived by her beloved husband of 68 years, John H. (Jack) MacLeod of Dana Point. She’s the devoted mother of Suzie Boyer, John K. MacLeod (Judy), Charlotte Holden (Brett), and Rod MacLeod (Susan); loving grandmother of John R. MacLeod (Karen), Michael MacLeod (Jen), Sarah Barr (John), Henry MacLeod, Elizabeth Faldermeyer (Alec), Catherine Boyer, Joe Holden, Anne MacLeod, Hannah MacLeod, Matt MacLeod, and Abigail MacLeod; and the beloved great-grandmother of Zoey MacLeod, Eloise MacLeod and Wyatt MacLeod.
Sally was born in Baltimore, Maryland, 1933, to John Newton Curlett, Sr. and Sarah Gilbert Neilson. An outstanding athlete and leader, Sally attended Friend’s School where she was inducted into the Hall of Fame.
While attending Pembroke College for two years, Sally modeled for print and television, but left college to marry Jack, the love of her life, in 1954. The young couple moved to Salina, Kansas, where Jack was a First Lt. in the Air Force, and Suzie was soon born. They then proceeded to have a baby in each of their next three stops; Dayton, Ohio (John), Seattle, Washington (Charlotte), and San Marino, California (Rod). Sally said no more moving!
The young family put down roots on Adair Street in San Marino for 53 years where Sally was a familiar sight, biking (and motorcycling) around town to give tennis lessons with a bucket of balls strapped to the back. Sally was very engaged in her community as a deaconess at Lake Avenue Church, Lacy Park Tennis board member, volunteer at the San Marino Woman’s Republican Club and Living Well, as well as a Bible Study leader.
As an extremely involved grandmother, Sally cheered her grandkids on at sporting and dance events, and enjoyed playing dolls, which-hand, and hoops (HORSE). She was also well known for her wonderful cards in which she always included a favorite Bible verse and a $2 bill.
Sally had the unique ability to liven up any gathering with her smile and energy, yet she always drew her grounding from a greater faith and purpose in life. Whether it was as a steward of the environment, feeding the hungry, helping an individual that needed a word or a hug, writing and advocating for a needed bill or policy, or campaigning door-to-door for candidates, her goal was always to make the world a better place … and that she did!
Sally will be missed, yet she will still live on in each of us that knew her. One of her favorite sayings, “… and the adventure continues” is apropos for all of us, as we are certain that Jesus was waiting for her at the Gates to continue her adventure.
A Celebration of Sally’s life will be held November 27th (Sunday) at 1:00 p.m. at the Laguna Presbyterian Church, 415 Forest Avenue, Laguna Beach. A reception will follow.
In lieu of flowers please
send any donations to USC ADRC (Alzheimer Disease Research Center) at https://bit.ly/SarahMacLeod, call Amanda at (562) 390-5624, or send to: USC Advancement Gift Services, 1150 S. Olive St., 25th Floor, Los Angeles, CA 90015.
