Athens –Funeral services for Marvin R. Sanders, 86, of Athens, Texas, are scheduled for 2:30 P.M., Sunday, May 17, 2015, at Bois D’Arc Baptist Church near Palestine with Bro. Mike Drinkard officiating. Interment will follow at Liberty Cemetery near Palestine.

Mr. Sanders passed peacefully on Thursday, May 14, 2015 in Tyler, Texas surrounded by his family.

Marvin Russell Sanders was born October 26, 1928 in Warren, Arkansas the son of William Russell Sanders and Ellie Mae Williams Sanders. He joined the United States Army, serving during the Korean War and was later honorably discharged as a Corporal. He married the love of his life, Wanda Lee Walls Sanders on July 3, 1952. After his service to his country he began work as a heavy equipment operator for both Anderson and Henderson County and was a local business owner in Athens for many years. Marvin was a member and Deacon of the Bois D’Arc Baptist Church and was an avid hunter and fisherman. He was a wonderful family man, a loving husband, father, grandfather, great grandfather and brother who will be greatly missed by all he knew.

He was preceded in death by his parents, his brother Roy Bushart and three sisters, Bess Ragar, Opal Moore and Mary Boone.

He is survived by his loving wife of 62 years Wanda Sanders of Athens; five daughters, Gail Cotton and husband Charles of Cleburne, Tina Harris and husband Joe, Jean Williams and husband Robbie, Sheila Smith and husband Eddie, Carla Jackson and husband Jeff all of Athens; one brother Hurley Sanders of Etoile, Texas; twenty grandchildren and 12 great grandchildren.

Pallbearers will be the grandsons: Rusty Smith, Benjamin Smith, Colt Harris, Jordan Harris, Jason Harris, Cade Jackson, Ethan Jackson and Ricky Cotton.

Visitation will be held from 5-7:00 P.M., Saturday, May 16, 2015, at the Hannigan Smith Funeral Home in Athens.

In lieu of flowers the family would like donations made in Marvin’s memory to:
Operation Christmas Child
Samaritan's Purse
PO Box 3000
Boone, NC 28607
828.262.1980.
www.samaritanspurse .org/occ
or in care of:
Bois D’Arc Baptist Church
310 A.C.R. 465
Palestine, Texas 75803

Arrangements were entrusted to the Hannigan Smith Funeral Home of Athens.