Valley PR Blog

Jon Strickland Says:
October 25th, 2007 at 10:25 am

I graduated from high school with Sally and was saddened to hear the news of her death.
Her family placed a short obituary in the Raleigh News & Observer. My guess is a more detailed one will be posted in a few days.
The funeral home handling the arrangements is located in Selma, North Carolina.

Patty Says:
October 25th, 2007 at 10:36 am

I would like to talk to ANYBODY that was close to Sally before she passed away. I have known her since we were 4 years old and this has come as a complete shock to me. Please contact me if you knew her….My e-mail is Patty.earp@jjnelson.com Thanks so much!

Leah Holiman Says:
October 26th, 2007 at 7:09 pm

I had the pleasure of working with Sally and being able to call her my friend. When I met her at Martz just over two years ago I never could have imagined the pain and sadness that I am feeling right now. I never thought that such a good friend with so much life and at such a young age would pass away so quickly. I am blessed to have had such a caring friend and spirit in my life and I will miss her greatly.

I love you Sally. God Bless You.

Leah Holiman
llove337@aol.com

DODIE HEADLEY Says:
October 27th, 2007 at 6:21 am

Although I have not seen Sally for many years, the news came as a painful blow to me, as well as many others who had the privilege of knowing her. We grew up in the same neighborhood, went through Elementary School, Middle School and High School together and kept contact throughout some of our college years. Many of my fondest childhood stories and memories include her…WOW, was she something or what?! She was loved dearly by many and will be missed greatly. My heartfelt thoughts and prayers go out to her family and friends during this time of sorrow.

Michelle Schenker Says:
October 29th, 2007 at 8:35 am

i worked with Sally at Grey Advertising in NYC and we quickly became good friends and spent a lot of time together. She had a great sense of humor, a warm smile and always something positive to say. i have so many great memories of fun times we had together and i’m sorry that we didn’t keep in close touch when she moved to Phoenix. I’m thankful for the times we shared and am so sad to hear this terrible news. i’ll miss her.

Daryl Thuroff Says:
October 29th, 2007 at 5:52 pm

Sally Dees was an amazing young woman, full of life, an outstanding coworker and remarkable friend. I had the pleasure of knowing her while working at Grey Advertising. Our friendship continued after she left Grey and after I left advertising to become a massage therapist. Sally was always fun but more importantly a very supportive person to all she knew. Though we hadn’t remained in steady contact after she moved out to Phoenix, when I said I was passing through on a road trip to Cali, she opened her home to my friend Dawn and me. She even went so far as to say if we were going through North Carolina and needed a place to stay we should go to her parent’s and they’d take care of us! This is a testament not only to Sally but her parents, Lou and Grover as well. These are wonderful people and I along with many others, am so sorry for their loss. While we have lost a wonderful human bein in this life, I am certain Sally will always be a presence for all of us who’ve been lucky enough to know her.

Ron Kohl Says:
October 29th, 2007 at 6:19 pm

I’ve knew Sally for only 1 1/2 years over the internet and via phone calls. I last spoke to her in early October for one of weekle/sem-weekly 3 hour convos. I wake up each morning missing her and her great wit and sweetness. I’ve suffered silently since I heard about her passing. I have never lost a close friend in my life and this is very difficult for me to cope with. I’ll miss her sardonic wit, her wonderful laugh, her smiling voice and, most of all, Sally the person. I’ll never forget her.

diana l. tomb Says:
October 29th, 2007 at 7:45 pm

I first met Sally because our addresses in Phoenix were so similar that she received one of my checks by mail. I too am an independent contractor and was expecting a check that never came. Sally called. “I have your check.” Yahooie. But, then I did not hear from Sally for a few days. “I am so sorry. I lost your check, but I called my mom and she told me to check in the dishwasher.” Yes, that’s where my check landed after she called. It had slipped out of the envelop. We met in the middle of 12 Street in Phoenix, and she said: “There’s a reason why we met.”

Yes, Sally. I am so glad that we were able to know one another for two short years.

Paula Radford Bowen Says:
October 30th, 2007 at 7:16 pm

I baby sat for Sally and Tommy growing up in Selma, NC. They were the best kids to baby sit for.. I looked forward to having a ball with them! Sally was always happy. I had a picture over my bed in high school that looked just like Sally when she was about 4 or 5. My Mom always called in my Sally picture. We STILL have it! I also lifeguarded at the pool we all went to. She was always a happy go lucky .. GREAT kid! She was a great kid because she had great parents! I will keep them in my prayers. Lou, Grover, Tommy and Sabrina were dear to her. GOd must have needed a SPECIAL angel to have taken Sally’s life at an early age. She must be making others angels laugh just this very moment!

Molly Dietlin Says:
October 31st, 2007 at 11:23 am

I never knew Sally Dees. I never knew her family. However, my husband and I spent this past weekend in the Scottsdale area celebrating the wedding of a friend. Saturday morning we hiked up Camelback mountain and were blown away by the beautiful setting and challening hike. On our way down from our hike we came upon a gentleman who was taking a photo of two people up on a beautiful flat rock. After chatting a bit, he asked us to take a photo of all three of them. Of course…it is always a pleasure to capture moments for stangers. It was only after taking the picture and chatting somemore that we learned of their purpose for their visit that morning. Their beloved daughter and sister had passed away in her sleep. She loved the Phoenix area and Camelback mountain in particular. My husband and I both sighed and shared our condolences. Sally was her name…Sally Dees. Even in death, she touched two people.

Our deepest condolences from Tim and Molly Dietlin from Chicago.

Cousin Tracy Says:
November 1st, 2007 at 1:20 pm

Sally was my favorite little cousin. Actually, you couldn’t take Sally without Tommy her brother, so I must admit (don’t tell him) but he is my favorite as well. Sally being the baby of the family was a beauty from birth. Mischievous and full of love but always had sugar under her neck. I’ll never know why but she took a liken to me as a child at a time which many did not and even continued as she grew up. I’ll never forget and cherish her youth, her love and her letters and that she actually cared for me.

Nicole Pittman Says:
November 2nd, 2007 at 12:48 pm

I too grew up with Sally through elementary, middle and high school. Unfortunatley after high school we just lost touch ….until January of this year. We spoke by phone and remained in contact until late September. Within those conversations we remembered why we were friends in the first place…noone will ever know how much that means to me! She was one of the strongest, most determined people I knew and was a huge part of my youth…she will never leave my heart and will watch over us all until we see her agian. Love to her family and my prayers to you too.

Kat Says:
November 3rd, 2007 at 3:35 pm

I’ve never met Sally but I considered her a friend. We met in Big Brother chat and continued to talk online and by phone… She talked about her mom being her best friend and how important family was to her. We would talk for hours late at night and even though I had never met her I felt like I knew her so well.I was deeply saddened to hear of her passing. My thoughts and prayers are with her family and friends at this time. Sally was one of a kind and will be missed by so many and never forgotten.

Kim Capps Says:
November 15th, 2007 at 10:43 am

I also knew Sally from High School. We didn’t hang out as much. But, what I knew of her she was so outgoing and everyone loved her. She was one of a kind. We I heard of the sudden saddness I was shocked. I did however lose sight after high school. But, not once forget memories. My deepest sympathy goes out to her family that indeed lost a wonderful daughter and friend. I was known as Kim Bell in school.