Donald Sanders, age 70, of Mt. Vernon died 4:52 a.m. Thursday, February 2, 2006, at St. Mary's Good Samaritan Hospital in Mt. Vernon.

He was born June 6, 1935, in Fayette County, Illinois, son of Ralph Sanders and Mildred (Rhoades) Sanders.

He first married Shirley Hoffman and later married Phyllis Hefner on March 27, 1994 in Centralia, Illinois and she survives.

Mr. Sanders was a Retired Sergeant at the Vandalia Correctional Facility, and was also a farmer.

Mr. Sanders is survived by his wife Phyllis Sanders of Mt. Vernon; two sons, Keith Sanders and wife Dee of Vandalia, and Kent Sanders and wife Karen of Ramsey, Illinois; one daughter Kendra Craig and husband Andy of Ramsey, Illinois; four grandchildren, Christopher Sanders, Jessica Torbeck, Kelby Sanders and Sarah Craig; two great-grandchildren, Kaitlyn Sanders and Preston Sanders; one step-son, David Bullock of Woodlawn, Illinois; three step-daughters, Sheila Ashby and husband Patrick of Centralia, Susan Bullock and husband Rick of Mt. Vernon, and Kathy Bradley and husband George of Mt. Vernon; two sisters, Barbara Brown and husband Lawrence of Vandalia, and Vivian Witter and husband Floyd of Collinsville; eight step-grandchildren, Brittany Morgan, Brandon Morgan, Ashlee Blankenship, Olivia Bullock, Michael Ashby, Benjamin Ashby, Rebekkah Bradley and Caleb Bradley. Several nieces and nephews also survive.

He was preceded in death by his parents, and an infant sister.

Donald was a member of the Ramsey Baptist Church in Ramsey, Illinois where he taught Sunday School.

He attended the King City Church of God in Mt. Vernon.

He was a member of the Fayette County Farm Bureau and was on the State Young People Committee for the Illinois Farm Bureau, Past Director of the Southwestern Electric Company. Donald loved to camp and collect tractors.

For those who wish, memorials may be given to the Prairie Cemetery in Ramsey, Illinois and will be accepted at the funeral home or mailed to Hughey Funeral Home P.O. Box 721, Mt. Vernon, Illinois 62864.

Source: Mount Vernon Register News
Date: February 2006
Submitted by: Kiowana Hayes Ferguson

Submitted By: Janice Staples