Sandra Lauzon, 83, Dolores civic leader and writer, dies at home

Sandra "Sandy" Lauzon, 83, a prominent Dolores civic volunteer, Episcopal reader and former writer and editor, died Jan. 9, 2026, at her home in Dolores. Her obituary states she "passed peacefully on January 9, 2026 at home with her family." The loss removes a visible presence from local civic life and from the Cortez-Dolores dance and faith communities.

A service is scheduled for 10:00 a.m. Friday, February 13, 2026, at St. Barnabas of the Valley Episcopal Church, 110 West North Street, Cortez. Published notices list the same time and address but show the church name spelled both as St. Barnabas and St. Barnabus; the service listing is consistent across local obituaries and the funeral-home notice.

Lauzon was born April 30, 1942, and was raised in Bellingham. Notices tracing her life report that in 1967 she moved to the West Coast with her husband, Pierre Raoul Lauzon, and their two children. The family lived in Torrance, California, through 2003. After Pierre's sudden death in 2003, Sandra Lauzon relocated to Dolores to be near remaining family.

Her published obituary records that "Sandy earned a Master's Degree in Theology from Loyola Marymount University, CA and spent her career as a writer and editor at Benziger Press." In Dolores she translated that background into active civic service: she served on the Dolores Town Board for eight years, was a member of the Dolores Chamber of Commerce, and was part owner of the Flying Pig consignment store when it operated in Dolores. Those roles positioned her at the intersection of small-town governance, local business and community programming.

Faith and community life were central to Lauzon's identity. Her obituary says, "Her dedication to faith, with optimism of inclusiveness and love of humanity led her to the Episcopal church, where she proclaimed the word of the Lord each Sunday, reading the scripture at Mass." She was also known across Montezuma and Dolores County for arts and social activity: she taught and danced at the Let's Dance studio in Cortez and favored West Coast Swing — a notice preserved the playful line that she "did not dance discriminate!" Lauzon was an avid crocheter who "gifted many an afghan to her family and friends."

Survivors listed in published notices include her daughter Colette and son-in-law Dan Heeney, and companion Bill Daily. She was preceded in death by her husband Pierre Raoul Lauzon and by her son Michael Jude Lauzon. Notices name her parents as Claire and Michael, though published accounts show two different spellings of the family surname and a likely typographical error in an early life sentence; those details and other administrative items are appropriate for family or funeral-home confirmation before final record-keeping.

For Dolores County, Lauzon's passing is a moment to reflect on the civic labor that sustains small towns: elected service on the town board, chamber participation and locally owned small business support. Her service on Feb. 13 offers a chance for residents familiar with her work at council meetings, the Flying Pig or the dance floor to mark her contribution. Local officials and community organizations may note her absence in ongoing civic projects and community events that rely on experienced volunteers.