Sandra Kay ("Sandy") Brown Harris

Sandra Kay “Sandy” Brown Harris, age 79, passed away on Wednesday, October 29, 2025.

Sandra was born in Carlsbad, New Mexico, to Frank and Lois Brown on October 24, 1946. Six years later her brother, Wayne, arrived and the family was complete. They camped and fished often, nurturing Sandra’s lifelong love of the outdoors. Surrounded by grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins, she grew up in a big, close-knit family and delighted in sharing the wonderful—and often hilarious—stories of her childhood. That upbringing instilled in her a deep devotion to family that she carried throughout her life.

An excellent student, Sandra graduated in the top ten percent of her class and was a member of the National Honor Society. She later enjoyed reconnecting with classmates at several reunions. She attended Texas Tech and New Mexico State University on scholarships before marrying and beginning her travels.

During her first marriage to Douglas Smith, she welcomed her son, Douglas, and motherhood quickly became one of her greatest joys. After the marriage ended, she married Bobby Jones and welcomed her daughters, Lisa and Camille. Sandra raised her family in Edgewood, New Mexico, and returned to TVI to earn an associate degree in computer programming. She then went on to build a 25-plus-year career at BDM International.

At Kirtland Air Force Base, she supported contracts for the Defense Nuclear Agency and the Air Force Weapons Laboratory. She earned certifications in environmental hazards and relocated to Texas for several years, managing environmental departments at BDM’s battery facility in San Marcos and later working for Hill Country Environmental. Over the years she also developed environmental software, contributed to Y2K remediation efforts, wrote specifications for chip-manufacturing equipment, and performed compliance testing.

Sandra and her brother Wayne were especially close and traveled the world together—to Australia, Europe, and took many trips to Hawaii. She loved the beach and snorkeling. Later in her career, while working in Germany, she made the most of every weekend, visiting Munich for Oktoberfest as well as Salzburg, Luxembourg, Belgium, and more. Closer to home, she explored every corner of New Mexico—the mountains, the desert, and, even had the honor of being on one of the early survey teams for New Cave at Carlsbad Caverns National Park.

Caring, concerned, and fiercely loyal, Sandra made a difference in countless lives with her willingness to offer comfort and solace. She had little patience for injustice or falsehood. She loved beautiful things—art, jewelry, and especially clothes—and was always impeccably put together. She also had a well-known sweet tooth: dessert wasn’t optional for Sandra; it was essential. She was an excellent cook and baker.

Sandra was a devoted member of Chapter BP of the P.E.O. Sisterhood. Active in church from an early age, she sang in the choir, supported numerous ministries, and performed in a Christian bluegrass band, sharing her voice at many events. Most recently, she was a member of Central United Methodist Church in Albuquerque.

She is survived by her children- son, Douglas K. Smith and his wife Shawn Smith; daughter, Lisa Maule and her husband Stephen Maule; and daughter, Camille Jones—her grandsons, Kevin Henson and Conor Jones; and her great-grandsons, Chasen and Harvey Henson. She will be dearly missed by many other relatives and friends, including close friends John Dickens and Jeanne Banks, whom Sandra lovingly called the sister she never had.

Sandra was preceded in death by her parents, Frank and Lois Brown; and her beloved brother, Lloyd Wayne Brown.

A Celebration of Life will be held on Friday, January 23, 2026, at 2:00 p.m. at Central United Methodist Church, 201 University Blvd NE, Albuquerque, NM 87106.

A reception, hosted by the family, will follow at 400 Cielo Azul, Corrales, NM.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be considered for the following non-profit organizations that would honor her memory.

• National MS Society – www.nationalmssociety.org

• Music Is Love Exchange - www.musicisloveexchange.org