Rusty Dell Lee Sanders

Dell Lee (Rusty) Sanders, Jr. passed from this life on October 29, 2021. He was born on December 29, 1938 in Marland, OK to Tillie Freeman Sanders and Dell Lee Sanders, Sr. He graduated from Marland High School and then joined the United States Navy on September 2, 1956, where he proudly served as AMH 2nd Class Petty Officer on the USS Kearsarge, CV-CVA-CVS-33. After his discharge in December 1959, he attended the Gupton-Jones College of Mortuary Science in Dallas, TX and began working at Sevier’s Funeral Home in Chickasha, OK. It was there that he met the love of his life, Frances Ellen Mills, and on September 14, 1963 at Holy Name Catholic Church, they began life as husband and wife. On September 2, 1967, Rusty and Fran made their home in Kingfisher, OK. Rusty and Fran built a life of service to others and instilled that in their children. Together, they served the St’s Peter & Paul Catholic Church and School, where he was a member of the Knights of Columbus, the school board and the church board. He served as Eucharistic Minister for many years. Rusty served as the volunteer boys basketball coach--for nineteen years and he also coached in the Kingfisher Little League for five years. He was a proud member of the American Legion Post #5 and a member of the Kingfisher Elks Lodge.

Rusty’s service as a funeral director for Kingfisher and the surrounding communities was paramount in his life. His care for the people of the community was evident in the dignified and loving way in which he cared for the loved ones of the deceased. He was proud to continue the legacy of Arthur Bracken, the first funeral director in the state of Oklahoma, and his skills as an embalmer are legendary. Rusty and Fran purchased the local funeral home and it became Sanders Funeral Service, Inc., with the emphasis on “service.” The Oklahoma State Funeral Directors’ Association Honored him with the Lifetime of Service Award, for his 50+ years of funeral service in the state.

Rusty was preceded in death by his parents, his brother, Bob Willingham, and the love of his life, Fran. He is survived by his children, daughter Lori Jech of Wichita Falls, TX, son Chad Sanders and wife Shelley of Kingfisher, daughter Nichole Copeland and husband Steven of Mustang, son Representative Mike Sanders and wife Nellie of Kingfisher, and son Chris Sanders of Tulsa. He is also survived by his sisters, Bonnie Bamberg and Leota Meyers of Kingfisher, and Shirley Jefferson of Arkansas. He is also survived by 14 grandchildren, Scott, Adam, Taylor, Mallory, Caleb, and Connor Jech, Michael Winnicki, Amanda Matthews, Katherine Stamp and Emily Sanders, Austin and Aaron Copeland, and Davis and Walker Sanders. He is also survived by 7 Great-Grandchildren, Lili Jo Torres, Aviauna Fuller, Gavin McConnell, Addy, Mylah, and Jonah Matthews, and Benton Winnicki. And he is survived also by 3 nieces, Cynthia Jefferson, Stephanie Cline, and Traci Borden, 3 nephews Tom Jefferson, and Robert and Richard Willingham, and a host of great-nieces and nephews.

A Celebration of Life will be held at 3:00 p.m. Wednesday, November 3, at LifeWay Church in Kingfisher. The Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:00 a.m., November 4, at St’s Peter & Paul Catholic Church in Kingfisher, with interment following in the Kingfisher Cemetery. Memorial contributions can be made to St’s Peter & Paul Catholic Church, 312 S. 6th St Kingfisher OK 73750, the Center of Family Love, W. Texas Ave & Sixth St. Okarche, OK 73762 or The American Legion Post #5, P.O. Box 196 Kingfisher, OK 73750.