Sally Lee (Sal-Lee) Holland

1947-2026

Sally Lee (Sal-Lee) Holland, 78, of Jamestown NY died Thursday, June 4, 2026, in UPMC Hamot in Erie.

Born on October 5, 1947, she was the beloved daughter of the late Helmer G. “Shorty” and Lillian A. Young.

A proud 1966 graduate of Jamestown High School, Sal-Lee went on to dedicate nearly 50 years of loyal service to Lutheran Social Services in food service.

From a very young age, Sal-Lee possessed a profound, God-given artistic talent. She was a master of many mediums, but she was especially well known as a gifted wood carver. Her beautiful bird carvings were highly admired, and she loved sharing her passion by teaching carving classes to others. Her creative spirit didn’t stop there–she was skilled at sketching and drawing, often using a wood-burning tool to uniquely accent the birds she carved.

Sal-Lee also had an exceptional eye for photography. Her outstanding nature pictures captured the beauty of the world around her, and she was an active member of an online photography group. Whether she was quilting, creating fine needlepoints, or finding a creative new recipe for canning food, Sal-Lee poured love and artistry into everything she touched.

Deeply connected to nature and adventure, Sal-Lee volunteered her time locally with the Jamestown Audubon Society and the Roger Tory Peterson Institute. To further her passion for nature, she took courses at SUNY Cobleskill. Her thirst for knowledge also took her far beyond the classroom, including a memorable expedition out to the Rocky Mountains to study the unique rock formations, native plant life, and wildlife in their natural terrain.

Sal-Lee’s life was defined by this wonderful variety of eclectic interests and her enthusiasm for trying new things. Whether she was helping on the ground crew for hot air balloon rides or cross-country skiing through the peace of winter, she embraced every experience fully. She would even cross-country ski her way to work when the weather was too bad to drive.

All of us who knew her will deeply miss her kind heart, her immense talents, and her beautiful spirit.

Surviving are siblings: Donald “Don” Holland and his wife Cheryl of Lake City, PA and Donna (Young) Jones of Jamestown, NY and Altamonte Springs, FL; sister-in-law: Kathy Young of Grand Rapids, MI; nieces & nephews: Phil Holland, Tom Holland, Heather Holland, Peter Jones, Melissa Jones, Kim Birkle, Dana Young, Katie Gange, and David Holland and many much-loved grandnieces and grandnephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Helmer G. “Shorty” and Lillian A. Young; brother Richard Holland and his wife Sue Holland; brother David Young; sister, Virginia “Ginny” Hayes; nephews Billy Holland and Douglas Paul Holland and niece Kelly Beld.

A celebration of Sal-Lee’s beautiful life will be announced at a later date.

You may leave words of condolence at lindfuneralhome.com.