Obituary of Ray Sanders

Services for Ray Sanders, 89, former longtime Abernathy resident, will be held at 10:00 am Monday, December 22, 2014, in the Abernathy First United Methodist Church. Burial will follow services in the Abernathy Cemetery under the direction of Abell Funeral Home & Flower Shop of Abernathy, TX. The family will gather at Abell Funeral Home to receive friends Sunday afternoon from 4:00 pm until 5:30 pm. Mr. Sanders died Thursday, December 18, 2014 in Fort Worth, TX, following a lengthy illness. He was born in Abilene, TX to Cora and Charles Sanders, September 2, 1925. Ray was a veteran of World War II where he served aboard the submarine USS Sterlet in the South Pacific. He will be remembered as a community leader, a Free Mason, an active member of Trinity Church and supporter of the Abernathy Senior Citizens. For over thirty years Ray served on the Abernathy Volunteer Fire Department and EMT service. He owned and operated Sanders Auto from 1961 until 1995. Ray was a compassionate giver and contributed generously to the South Plains Food Bank and other charities. He is survived by his wife, Betty, daughters, Nancy Schaap, Annette Johnson, Susan Shaw, Terri Lumpkin and Larissa Little, a son, Ross Dodge, and their spouses, 14 grandchildren and 7 great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his first wife, Janelle Sanders, his three sisters, Ruth Sheek, Rose McCain and Catherine Morris.