Obituary of Sally Lee Russell Arant

Sally Lee Russell Arant, age 93, passed peacefully from this earth to Heaven on November 12, 2022.

She was born on February 11, 1929, in Medford, Oregon to James Elmo Russell and Margaret Virginia Van Scoy. An only child, she dreamed of someday having a big family – which would come to pass in future years.

Sally attended Southern Oregon College with a major in Elementary Education before marrying Donald Lynn Arant on June 6, 1948, in Ashland, Oregon.

She served others throughout her life using her creativity as a beloved preschool teacher, a pastor’s wife, and an energetic mom to seven children. She penned several children’s books and utilized her gifts with words, art, imagination, and a quick-wit - all grounded in her steadfast Christian faith - in her work and ministry roles, and daily in her family life.

During their 65-year marriage, Sally and Don lived in Medford, Ashland and Portland, Oregon as well as Merced, California, Des Moines, Iowa, Janesville, Wisconsin, finally spending over 30 years in Denver, Colorado.

Prior to moving to live with her daughter and son-in-law, Megan and Jeff Smith of Centennial, Colorado, at the onset of the 2020 pandemic, Sally was well known at Clermont Christian Living Center. She lived an active lifestyle there, taking classes on Hebrew language and customs, participating in community celebrations, heading up Poet-Teas for the residents and creating special birthday and Christmas presents for her neighbors and others who didn’t have regular visitors.

Central in her life was her faith in God, faithful daily prayer for every member of her family and unwavering dedication to Jesus. Her fondest hope was to someday see her entire family in Heaven, united in the perfect love of Christ.

Sally was preceded in death by her husband, Donald. She is survived by her children and their spouses, Susan (Thomas) Cronin, Donald Scott (Gillian) Arant and former spouse Sharon Arant, Sally Becker, Molly Pease, Megan (Jeffery) Smith, Monica (Daniel) Overzet, and Joseph (Laura) Arant, and 17 grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren.

Family gathered for a memorial luncheon and eulogy at the Overzet’s home on November 19th and a burial service for family-only will be held at Fort Logan Military Cemetery on December 12th.