Sally Elizabeth Kneifel

Sally Elizabeth Hutchison was born on November 25, 1932 in St Louis, Missouri, the oldest of four children of Fred and Mary Dalrymple Hutchison of Springfield, Missouri. The family moved to Tucson Arizona in 1945 and Sally graduated from Tucson High School, class of 1950. She attended the University of Arizona and El Camino Junior College in El Segundo, California before accepting a sales position
with American Airlines.

Sally’s maternal grandmother, Lena Elizabeth Hutchison, known as Hutchie to all her grandchildren, homesteaded with her husband, CR Hutchison in Cripple Creek Colorado to look for gold where Sally’s father, Frederick Alexander Hutchison was born in 1902; the family moved four years later to Hahn’s Peak, Colorado and bought a placer mine in nearby Bugstown. In subsequent years, Sally with her family spent many family reunions in Colorado which whetted her interest in family history.

Sally’s marriage to Duane Peters ended in divorce. They had one child, Camden Ernest Peters. She married Earle Leroy Kneifel and gained two adopted children, Linda Suzanne Kneifel and Christopher Scott Kneifel. Sally and Earle lived in Manhattan Beach for over 40 years and enjoyed sailing from the Marina del Ray Yacht Club and many friends through their church and Rotary. They were married for 49 years before Earle’s death in 2020.

Sally was a licensed homeopathic practitioner and enjoyed her relationships with many clients. She also was a tour director and regularly took groups of travelers to both Africa, on safari, and to Israel. She was a talented artist, gardener, an accomplished photographer, silversmith and oil painter. Most of all she was a gracious hostess and lovely friend to many in the South Bay.

Sally discovered the Leftwich family history in 1991 on a legacy inquiry with her sister Betsy that ended in the Bedford Public Library in Virginia, and an introduction to Lillian Pilland. Sally helped charter the Leftwich Historical Association and served as president several terms taking members more than once to the family’s roots in England and visiting the remnants of the Leftwich Hall. In her memory, you may wish to make a donation to the Leftwich Historical Association, 4305 Hyridge Drive, Austin, TX 78759.