Sandra C. Searle died at the Martha’s Vineyard Hospital on March 29 after a brief and courageous battle with cancer. She was 82.

She was born on April 11, 1939 to Claire Ward and David Cryer Jr. She attended the Tisbury School and graduated from Tisbury High School in 1957. While in school, she worked as a switchboard operator and played the trumpet in the Tisbury School Band and the All-Island School Orchestra. She was a member of Christ United Methodist Church, Rainbow Girls and Girl Scouts. She enjoyed knitting, crocheting, sewing, and she loved to dance.

She married David Searle Sr. and stayed home to raise their four sons. During these years she also served as a caregiver for other children before re-entering the workforce. She spent 22 years with the Martha’s Vineyard National Bank before her retirement. After David retired, the couple relocated briefly to Florida before returning to the Island. The Vineyard was truly her home.

Sandra was a social butterfly. She looked forward to every class reunion where she could catch up and reminisce with her old classmates. She loved to attend services at Christ United Methodist Church, community suppers and dinners out at Offshore Ale.

She loved life and loved her family. She especially loved to share stories of the “old days” with her children and grandchildren. She enjoyed bookkeeping and recordkeeping so she was, naturally, the family’s keeper of records, with meticulous notes documenting nearly every family birth, wedding, graduation, or other important event spanning the past 65 years.

She was predeceased by her husband, David in 2008. She is survived by her son Peter, his daughter Tia, his grandchildren Ella and Jaxson; Peter’s wife Jaroslava and her daughter Marketa and grandchild Sam; her son Tom and his three children, Ryan Elizabeth, Kaleena and Mackenzie; her son David Jr. and his spouse Alicia; her son Brian and his spouse Brandi; her sister Judith Araujo; her brother David Cryer and his spouse Nancy; her daughter in law Louise; and many nieces, nephews and cousins.

Visiting hours will be held at Chapman Funerals and Cremations in Oak Bluffs on Friday, April 8 from 5 to 7 p.m. Please wear a face covering. A graveside service will take place at Oak Grove Cemetery in Vineyard Haven on Saturday, April 9 at 11 a.m., officiated by Rev. Dr. Roger Spinney.

Memorial donations can be made to Hospice of Martha’s Vineyard, P.O. Box 1748, Vineyard Haven, MA 02568.