Annell Sunderland Lees

Annell Sunderland Lees passed away on March 15, 2016, at the age of 93. Annell was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and even in her last years, still a pillar of strength in her family. She was a world traveler, entertainer, art collector, writer, poker/bridge enthusiast, expert salesperson and savvy investor. Annell was born in 1922 in Larned, Kansas to Dean "Squire" Sunderland, a banker, and Kathryne "Honey" Garth, a poet and professional singer. During her childhood, she moved to Forgan, Oklahoma, and then to Long Beach, California. She attended Poly High School and later graduated from Wilson High School alongside her lifelong friend, Lorraine Doyle.

Annell attended UC Berkeley and later, UCLA, where she studied acting under the great Ralph Freud, and starred alongside Robert Mitchum on stage at UCLA. After college, Annell returned to Long Beach to pursue a career in Sales, and she later became a real estate broker. While working at Walker's Department Store in Long Beach, she met her co-worker and future husband, the late Harry Lees. Together they raised two children and were the best of partners in pursuing all the adventures that Annell could dream up — including a year-long trailer trip with their young children across the entire United States. (Year-long cruises on ocean freighters and walking alone down the streets of Kabul came much later in her life.)

Annell was the consummate hostess, regularly planning large family gatherings, hosting bridge clubs, and organizing lively parties for her Long Beach and Lake Havasu friends. She was also an entertainer, playing ukulele, emceeing fashion shows, and encouraging her children and grandchildren to perform on stage. She was an active member of Ebell (Group J), Dramatic Allied Arts Guild, Long Beach Petroleum Club, Lake Havasu Yacht Club, and was a founding member of the Uke Beautes, a local ukulele performance troupe. Annell is survived by her two children: Harriet and James (wf. Trisha); four grandchildren: Christopher (wf. Lena), Tyler, Anna (hb. Carlos) and Amy (hb. Darik); and four great-grandchildren: Clark, Conner, Oliver, and Emilyn Annelina (her namesake). All of her family misses her dearly, and they are all stronger people for the love, the encouragement and the motherly/grandmotherly advice she gave them. To know her was to love her.

Any friends from the community are welcome to join the family at her memorial service on Friday, April 1, 2016 at 2 p.m. at the Chapel in the center of the Sunnyside Mausoleum building at Forest Lawn, 1500 East San Antonio Drive, Long Beach. (Enter from Cherry Avenue, just south of San Antonio.) If you would like to contact the family to express your condolences, her children would welcome your call — Harriet Lees Kaiser at (626) 385-7966 or Jim Lees at (562) 697-7540.