Florence Eleanor Sanders

1915 - 2013

FLORENCE ELEANOR SANDERS Florence Eleanor Sanders, June 23, 1915 - February 6, 2013. Florence was born to Andrew & Flora Johnson on June 23, 1915 in Orland, Ca. She married Floyd Sanders on December 5, 1935. They lived and raised their family in Orland. Floyd passed away on June 12, 1987, after 51 years of marriage. Florence attended Calumet Grade School, a one room school house, and graduated from Orland High School in 1934. She was a long time member of the First Lutheran Church in Orland. She belonged to the Quilters Guild at church and enjoyed many hours socializing and making quilts for others. Florence worked at Sprouse-Reitz and then at T. M. Duche Nut Company for 20 years. After retirement, Florence continued working by volunteering at the Orland Thrift Store until she was 88. She loved spending every possible moment with her family and friends. Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Easter were always celebrated at her farm with the family. Her wonderful neighbors and friends stopped by often to say hello. Florence loved the Lord, her family, church, friends, laughing, her kitties, being an active member of the Orland Garden Club, flowers, her home, her cabin, tea cups, sewing, baking, and the SF Giants. Her lemon pies, angel food cake, and apricot jam were the best! At the age of 93, Florence moved to Oroville to live with her youngest daughter Dianne. Florence was preceded in death by her brother Stanley Johnson and sister Ardell Davis. She is survived by her children: Sharon Thon (Iver); Dianne McKeehan (Russell deceased); sisters, Doris Dragseth and Grace Balatin; grandson, Michael Thon, granddaughter, Linda Thon-Kiger (Kevin), grandson Jeff McKeehan (Kirsten), and grandson Brad McKeehan (Christie); great grandchildren, Stephanie and Allison Kiger, Jeffrey and Mackenzie McKeehan, and Kyra, Kayla and Karli McKeehan. Florence's positive, loving, and faith-filled spirit touched all who knew her. She was truly one-in-a-million and will be deeply missed by all. A memorial service to celebrate her great life will be held Friday, Feb. 15, 2013 at 12:00 p.m. at the First Lutheran Church in Orland.