Obituary for Sandra Sue "Sandy" Darnell (Smith)
Sandra, “Sandy” Sue Darnell, 73, former commercial fisherman and resident of Westport,
Washington passed away on Friday, December 23, 2023 in her Westport home.
Sandy was born on April 15, 1949 to parents Jack and Sarah (MoQuin) Smith in Chicago,
Illinois. She was raised in Chicago for some time before the family moved to Chehalis,
Washington. Sandy graduated from W.F. West High school in Chehalis, Washington. During
her high school days, Sandy competed and was the runner up for the court of Ms. Lewis County
Pageant. Shortly after high school, she married Barry Rowland. They had 2 children: Jeromy
and Chad. The couple later divorced. Sandy became a commercial fisherman and moved to
Elfin Cove, Alaska. She later met and married Roddy Darnell. When she decided to retire from
fishing, she later opened her own business; a gift shop where she would make and sell her own
jewelry out of her home in Elfin Cove. When her mother-in-law passed away, she and Roddy
moved to Juneau, Alaska. Sandy re-opened her gift shop in Juneau. June 24, 2015, Roddy
passed away, and Sandy moved to Grapeview, Washington. A few years later in 2017, she
moved to Westport, Washington to be closer to the ocean. Sandy continued to make her
jewelry and run her gift shop. Whether it was jewelry or shadow boxes, she loved to make art.
She enjoyed cooking, spending time with her dog Chewy, being near the ocean, and had a
passion for the guitar. She was an accomplished musician, enjoying most genres, but thriving
in folk music. She could play on any type of guitar, and even made a few albums. She got the
opportunity to play with famous musicians in Alaska.
Sandy is preceded in death by her parents and her husband, Roddy Darnell.
She is survived by her sons: Jeromy Rowland, and his wife, Diane, of Renton, Washington, and
Chad Rowland of Renton, Washington; her brothers, Dave Smith, and his wife, Anita, of
Oauhu, Hawaii; and Greg Smith, and his wife, Barb, of Portland, Oregon; 4 grandchildren:
Brandon Rowland, Britney Rowland, Amber Delegans and Holly Houghton, and her husband,
Isaiah; and one great grandchild Kaiden Rowland born July 9, 2022 that Sandy was able to
meet; niece, Sarah, and nephew, Lucas.
At this time no services have been scheduled as of yet.
Washington passed away on Friday, December 23, 2023 in her Westport home.
Sandy was born on April 15, 1949 to parents Jack and Sarah (MoQuin) Smith in Chicago,
Illinois. She was raised in Chicago for some time before the family moved to Chehalis,
Washington. Sandy graduated from W.F. West High school in Chehalis, Washington. During
her high school days, Sandy competed and was the runner up for the court of Ms. Lewis County
Pageant. Shortly after high school, she married Barry Rowland. They had 2 children: Jeromy
and Chad. The couple later divorced. Sandy became a commercial fisherman and moved to
Elfin Cove, Alaska. She later met and married Roddy Darnell. When she decided to retire from
fishing, she later opened her own business; a gift shop where she would make and sell her own
jewelry out of her home in Elfin Cove. When her mother-in-law passed away, she and Roddy
moved to Juneau, Alaska. Sandy re-opened her gift shop in Juneau. June 24, 2015, Roddy
passed away, and Sandy moved to Grapeview, Washington. A few years later in 2017, she
moved to Westport, Washington to be closer to the ocean. Sandy continued to make her
jewelry and run her gift shop. Whether it was jewelry or shadow boxes, she loved to make art.
She enjoyed cooking, spending time with her dog Chewy, being near the ocean, and had a
passion for the guitar. She was an accomplished musician, enjoying most genres, but thriving
in folk music. She could play on any type of guitar, and even made a few albums. She got the
opportunity to play with famous musicians in Alaska.
Sandy is preceded in death by her parents and her husband, Roddy Darnell.
She is survived by her sons: Jeromy Rowland, and his wife, Diane, of Renton, Washington, and
Chad Rowland of Renton, Washington; her brothers, Dave Smith, and his wife, Anita, of
Oauhu, Hawaii; and Greg Smith, and his wife, Barb, of Portland, Oregon; 4 grandchildren:
Brandon Rowland, Britney Rowland, Amber Delegans and Holly Houghton, and her husband,
Isaiah; and one great grandchild Kaiden Rowland born July 9, 2022 that Sandy was able to
meet; niece, Sarah, and nephew, Lucas.
At this time no services have been scheduled as of yet.