Sally Stratford

One summer when I was about 11, my grandma told me and some of the other grandchildren that we could have a garage sale. We spent all day Friday gathering things and pricing them. My grandma made a lot of angel food cakes to sell to our customers. There were five grandchildren there…Tige, Travis, and I can’t remember who else.

We got up early on Saturday to put out all of our wares. We waited and waited and we got very few customers. Apparently garage sales aren’t very popular in Bel Air. I do remember the mail carrier coming by and she bought most of the fabric and some cake.

We were feeling a little discouraged because dividing up our measly sales wasn’t going to give us much money. Grandma was trying to think of a way to make more money so she told us we could sell her car as part of the garage sale. It was a little red, hatchback.

We sold the car to the gardener and we made a lot of money.

Amy Stratford Barker

Darling Sally Stratford was the life of every party and so graciously opened her home to everyone.  It was always a special treat to be invited to their lovely, fun home in the Bel Air hills on Stradella Road. She was a devoted mother and wife and her wonderful children and husband loved her dearly. As Lynn’s special Westwood Ward friends, she always welcomed us  with her gracious personality, beautiful smile, and yummy treats. Her light within truly did shine. She was a blessing to everyone. We all loved her.  

Vickie Webster Birchall and Val Webster Guyman

Vera Calder Stratford, known to the world as Sally, was the sister I never had.

Vera was the only daughter of Aunt Nellie and I was the only daughter of her younger sister Edna. There was a great difference in our ages. She was teaching high school long before my time. She married Dick Stratford and moved to Portland, Oregon.

My husband Bryant Alfred Alder and I came to Portland to enter dental school in 1947. The only people we knew to contact were Dick and Vera Calder Stratford. We called and they welcomed us into their home with open arms! They became our very best friends. More than that, they became our family.

We did everything together.

We worked in the LDS Church, and we spent our social lives with Dick and Sally. They were our family.

We traveled together! We went on many trips to Canada and we made the trip of a lifetime to Japan and to Asia, traveling for three weeks together.

Dick had many contacts throughout the Orient and he made many special arrangements for accommodations and for tours throughout the country. We have traveled everywhere since then, but nothing can equal that trip with Dick and Sally to the Orient!

My children grew up calling her “Aunt Sally.” She fulfilled that role well. Aunt Sally was our family and she was involve din our lives every day.

We loved Dick and Sally! We remember them with love and affection. They still mean the world to us.

Afton Alder

May 2020

Sally Stratford will always live in the hearts of my family. She was such a special human being…and how we miss her here on earth. Life was just one big party for her. She loved absolutely everyone no matter their station in life.

1. I remember the stories of her making a delicious lunch for her cleaning lady and would have her sit down at the table to enjoy it.

2. She had far more things to do than make sure her house was neat and orderly. She claimed that if anyone broke into the house to rob it, they would look around and be convinced that someone had already been there.

3. Her impersonations of her husband were hilarious. She would put on a bald head hat, a suit and carry a attache case. She would mimic his praying by signing off with “Sincerely Yours, RCS.”

4. Her driving technique was memorable. She once had my son in tow as she raced down the very curve filled hill in Belaire to get to the post office before the deadline to pay their taxes with Ty hanging on for dear life, even crossing himself in case that would help them survive.

5. One of most endearing qualities was when you conversed with her, she gave you her complete attention. She never lost eye contact or stop to answer a ringing phone. She was totally yours and she always had valuable advice whenever it was desired.

6. Once after a wonderful Thanksgiving dinner with all of the family, my mother and father-in-law were off to Hawaii. Sally gave them a gorgeously wrapped bon voyage gift with instructions not to unwrap it until they were over the ocean. Eagerly they were able to open it only to find the turkey carcass from the Thanksgiving dinner.

She and Dick were very close to my husband’s parents inasmuch as her romance with began with them taking care of Sally when she came to Portland to be wooed by Dick. Every Christmas was spent together and always followed a schedule.
When Cal and Ralph Stratford’s son, Ralph Jr., decided to wed, Sally cooked up the perfect scheme for the wedding night. She told Cal that she was concerned that his bride, yours truly, would be scared to death about that occasion and that she felt it important to provide him with a pair of pajamas (which he never wore) so that I would be less frightened. To slow down the activities of the evening she sewed the pant legs of the pajamas closed with very small stitches. How she loved a practical jokes.

Sally was one in 10,000 trillion!

Marla Stratford

President and Sister Stratford were serving their mission in the Northern States Mission. We Chicago buddies used to go over to the Mission Home, especially when Lynn’s parents were traveling. When we were there, we had the freedom to explore that huge ‘castle’.

Once, Lynn painted his bedroom black with a reflective design on the wall. I was waiting for the hammer to fall on Lynn. When he finally reported how his parents responded to his graffiti, he said that they were, of course, upset. If I had done that in my bedroom my parents, especially my mom, would have grounded me for life. When I next saw Sally, I was waiting to be scolded for the poor influence we had on Lynny Treasure. Instead she asked how I was doing, hugged me and expressed her love. John and Roy’s mothers would have given me the ‘dickens’.

Sally, Lynn’s mother, made me feel like I was special. It was like the other guys were so-so, but I was absolutely the best of the bunch. Now I know that she probably treated all the guys that way but she made me feel special. She would pinch my cheeks with love and tell me that I was an extraordinary young man, a blessing for her son and that she loved me. All I can say is that her ability to make me feel like I was worth something was a trait she shared with the world. Lynn’s mother had the gifts of warmth and an ability to communicate her tenderness. I loved her then and I look forward to seeing her again.

Randy Turner

When Randy and I were dating in college, my roommate, Hilma, was dating Randy’s dear friend, Lynn Stratford. For Thanksgiving 1966 (?)Lynn invited us with some other friends to come to his home in Westwood, California. I hadn’t been to California in fall or winter and I was incredulous that it would actually be warm. When we arrived the weather was perfect and Lynn’s home was lovely.

As we entered the house, Lynn’s mother, Sally, took Randy’s face in her hands and looked long and hard into his eyes. “I am so glad you’re here, Randy!” she said with such a warm infectious smile and a twinkle all around her.

We later sat down to a gorgeous Thanksgiving dinner! I had never been to a dinner party were the hostess actually heated the dinner plates and chilled the salad plates and forks. Sally had prepared a beautiful spread of delicious food. Every dish was perfectly presented. I remember hearing one of the guests say, “ This sweet potato casserole is wonderful! May I have the recipe?” Again with that delightful sparkle, Sally answered, “Some things are too sacred to share.” I wouldn’t be surprised if she shared it in private with that woman after dinner.

As I look back upon impressions of people who have had an influence on my life, I do think of Sally and her personification of graciousness.  In my adult life when we were called upon to entertain groups, I remembered the day that Better Homes and Gardens visited the Stratfords.  Sally, ‘the hostess with the mostest,’ was the example I tried to emulate. Planning and preparing such a meal was her gift to others, all the details designed to show her guests her love. And the food was memorable, too!

Lynda Turner

In 1938, Dick & Sally Stratford bought their first home at 4042 S.E. Ankeny Street in Portland, just east of 39^thstreet (see photos below). The purchase price of the 1,400 square foot home originally built in 1916 was about $2,500.

For sure, it was a “starter home” and needed some repairs and maintenance.  Sally tells the story of how one Saturday during the summer, dad decided to paint the living room or the main area off the front door.  By the time he got seriously working on the project, it was the afternoon and the weather was hot and humid.  Dad was on a ladder painting the top wall by the ceiling, but the heat just became too uncomfortable.  He took off his shirt and pants and was then painting in his underwear.

This was an opportunity that mother could not let pass.  She snuck out the back door of the home, went around to the front door and … rang the doorbell.  Dad about fell off the ladder thinking someone would see him in this state of undress.  As mother told this story, she had this playful smile of her face and laughed at such a  perfect prank.  This is a clue into her unceasing sense of humor and her impish disregard for what some might consider “proper.”