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Wanda Lea (Stapley) Sedig

Posted 2009-11-26 by Judy Wight Branson
The Arizona Republic, Phoenix, Arizona
Saturday, January 4, 2003

Wanda L. Stapley Sedig, 87, of Phoenix, Arizona, passed away December 30, 2002.

Visitation will be held January 6, 2003, 5-8 p.m., Resthaven Park Mortuary.

Services will be held January 7, 2003, 12:00 p.m., Resthaven Park Mortuary, 4310 E. Southern Ave.
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The Arizona Republic, Phoenix, Arizona
Sunday, January 5, 2003

Wanda Lea (Stapley) Sedig was an Arizona native, born into one of the pioneering families, in Safford, Arizona. She was the first child of Thomas L. "T.L." and Beulah Waddell Stapley.

Wanda and her two younger brothers, Jude and Victor, spent their youth in Tempe, Arizona, where her father managed the University of Arizona's date orchards. Wanda attended Rural School at Southern Avenue and Rural Road, where she most enjoyed pretending to be Mrs. Agnes Meyer, the Principal. She continued her education at Tempe High, where, with weekly regularity she fell down the front steps. Her knees were never the same.

Wanda's father's family came to Arizona by way of Salt Lake City, as Mormon settlers, in the early 1860's. Her maternal great grandmother was an Apache Native American, who "broke the rules" and married a white man. Her husband's parents came here from Sweden, by way of Nanny Sedig's five years of servitude, to pay her fare across the "pond". She then traveled across the Southern United States with the "Hand Cart Brigade". Grandpa Sedig came, due to a fire aboard the ship where he was an engineer.

Wanda and her husband Carl were married for sixty-two years. She and Carl spent many of the years before and during World War II in Ajo where Carl worked in the copper mines. He was a veteran of the Marine Corps Boxer Rebellion in China, during the late 20's. Wanda was a medical secretary for more than thirty years. She also was the Secretary for the P.T.A., for the State of Arizona, seven years. Most recently she worked as the Chief Proofreader for The Trial Reporter of Arizona and Nevada, and worked every day until the Friday before her death.

Wanda loved: Our Lord; her family; country music; slot machines; camping out anywhere (she was the women who took the kitchen sink, and more clothesline and tarps than anyone could imagine); searching for seashells (shelling) at Rocky Point; rock hounding everywhere; and doing her work.

Wanda was preceded in death by her parents; brothers; husband, Carl; and daughter, Nina Lea.

She is survived by her sons, Carl A. "Cork" Sedig and Theodore L. "Teddy" Sedig; her daughter, Beverly J. Graham; and her beloved grandchildren, both born and chosen: Cindy, Tad, Cheryl, Cristy, Joel, Vera, Terianne, Michael, Bradley, Brian, Jennifer, Denise, Grace, Butch, Lisa, Sander, Sarah, and Tommy; plus their chosen partners, who she always welcomed with love. Wanda also leaves many great-grandchildren: Kurtis, Kevin, Anthony, Tami, Alycia, Maxwell, Christopher, Calenda, Cassey, Sammey, Summer, Colton, Weston, Austin, Josh, Justin, Ryan, Tyler, Jessica, Alex and Tado. Wanda is also survived by seven great great grandchildren, and her best loved friends, Hyla G. Moore, of Phoenix; and Edie Stallings, of Washington State.




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