Mary Rose Shanklin Sanders

Mary Rose Shanklin Sanders was called home Jan. 17, to be with her Lord and Savior and loved ones.

Mary Rose was born Aug. 10, 1932 to Leonard and Pearl Shanklin and was welcomed by big brothers Leonard and Gerald.

She was born and raised in Gonzales where she graduated with the class of 1950 from Gonzales High School. She was class president, played basketball and volleyball and was on the pep squad. She was also a member of FHA Club and on the school Lexington Staff.

In 1952, she married Virgil Sanders and they had two sons Michael and Stephen Sanders. Mary Rose was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, friend and teacher for the Gonzales Independent School District. She also coached girls’ basketball and track and field.

She loved to read books and do crossword puzzles and watched the Cowboys and Spurs.

She was very active in her church, Eastside Baptist, donating her time and money to many charities, St. Jude being one of her favorites. She taught and shared with her granddaughters her passion of cooking. She loved being a homemaker, wife, mother and grandmother to all her loved ones.

She was preceded in death by her parents, husband Leonard, brothers Leonard and Gerald Shanklin, grandson James W. Oeltjen and granddaughter Calli Rader.

She is survived by her sons Michael Sanders and his wife Nancy and Steve Sanders, grandchildren Vanessa (Rob) Miller, Amy (Chris) Riojas, Tiffany Sanders (Michael), Stevie (Joseph) Reeves, Jacob (Mandy) Sanders, Rachel Sanders, Nancy Beth Hill and Jessica Cook. Also surviving are many great-grandkids, nieces and nephews.

Visitation will be held from 10 until 11:30 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 20, followed by the funeral service at 11:30 a.m. at Seydler-Hill Funeral Home with Reverend Clint Lowery officiating. Interment will be at the Hermann Sons Cemetery. Pallbearers include Braxton Sanders, Isiah Sanders, Jacob Sanders, Joseph Reeves, Chris Riojas and Michael Medina. Honorary pallbearers are Caliber Reeves, Robert Cantu, Kenyon Sanders, Noah Miller and Zachary Kenning. Arrangements under the care and direction of Seydler-Hill Funeral Home, Gonzales.