Thomas "Tom" Douglas Sanders

Thomas “Tom” Douglas Sanders of Steelville, MO was born on Sunday, November 9, 1947 in Steelville, MO to Vernon Estel Sanders and Agnes Eunice Sanders, nee Dierking.  He passed away surrounded by his family on Tuesday, April 23, 2024 at SSM Health St. Clare Hospital in Fenton, MO at the age of 76 years, 5 months and 14 days.

Tom graduated from Steelville High School in the Class of 1965. He was drafted into the United States Army where he served our country honorably during the Vietnam War and received a purple heart.  He met Charlotte “Jean” Wilkinson when she was 14 years old through Jean’s cousin, Karen Cottrell, and a year later they began dating. On April 8, 1967, Jean and Tom were the first couple to be married at Straightway Baptist Church in Steelville, MO by Melvin Reed and to this union, four children were born. The couple moved back and forth between Steelville and Dillard for a few years before settling down permanently in Steelville. Tom started at Steelville Manufacturing when he was 16 years old as a machinist, where he later returned and retired from.  In between that time, he had worked for 16 years at Amax Lead in Viburnum, MO and Brown Shoe Company in Steelville.  Tom had accepted the Lord early in life, was a member of Straightway Baptist Church and loved to talk about Jesus.   Tom and Jean were involved in getting the diamonds in the baseball field, Tom was part of getting the Steelville Stars baseball team started and he coached both Tommy & Doug’s teams. He loved music; whether it was singing or playing the guitar.  Tom played music during Vietnam over the radio and television, and even had a record made.  He started off singing back home at honky tonks and later at churches with his group, the Gospel Heirs Quartet. He enjoyed telling stories, camping, fishing, deer hunting, going to deer camp and loved shooting squirrels off his front porch.  Most of all, Tom loved his family and being a grandpa.  He created a legacy for his family with Jean that his kids can look back on, teaching them music and most importantly about the Lord.  He was a devoted husband, father, grandfather, great grandfather, brother, uncle, cousin and friend.

He was preceded in death by his loving wife of 51 years, Jean Sanders; parents Vernon and Agnes Sanders; parents-in-law Johnny “Tim” and Rilma Wilkinson; sisters Jane (Bob) Richardson and Mabel (Doyle) Moutray; brothers-in-law Dale Stulce and Roy Keys; nephew Johnathan Tucker; nieces Penny Lee, Felicia Eads and Mary West.

Tom is survived by his children Lorie (Jake) Kanouse of Steelville, MO, Tommy (Randie) Sanders of Sullivan, MO, Doug Sanders (Jennifer) of Pennsville, NJ and Sheri Sanders of Osage Beach, MO; 18 grandchildren: Kati (Dustin) Alexander, Dylan (Jennifer) Sanders, Adam (Aaliyah) Bailey, Layton, Lane and Laysyn Kanouse, Cortland (Rachel) Vawter, Delaney (Robbie) Gregory, Isaac Sanders, Cassie (Josh) Wineinger, Ashleigh (Casey) Johnson and Macie (Josh) Jenkins, Abbi-Jean, Izzabella and Grady Sanders, Zachary and Anthony Derish and Tanner Potter (fiancée Abigail Booker); 14 great grandchildren Dustin “Junior” and Averie Alexander, Ridley and Wiley Sanders, Beau Bailey, Graycen Gregory, Olivia, Jaxson and Rylen Wineinger, Addie, Beau and June Johnson, Sloan and Steele Jenkins; siblings Fay Halbert, Sue Sanders and Estel (Violet "Sis") Sanders all of Steelville, MO; brother-in-law Ercil (Kathy) Wilkinson of La Grange, KY; sisters-in-law Vickie Keys of Mansfield, MO, Debra Wilkinson (companion Fred) of Steelville, MO, Rena Stulce of Cuba, MO and Etta (Benny) White of St. James, MO; nieces, nephews, cousins and many friends.

Visitation was from 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM on Friday, April 26, 2024 at Hutson Funeral Home, Steelville, MO. Funeral Service was at 11:00 AM on Saturday, April 27, 2024 at Straightway Baptist Church, Steelville, MO with Bro. Bill Towns officiating. The service was livestreamed on Hutson Funeral Home in Steelville, MO’s Facebook Page. Burial was at Straightway Baptist Cemetery in Steelville, MO with full military honors.  Memorials were suggested to the Thomas Sanders Memorial Account at FCNB Bank, Steelville.

Arrangements under the care of Hutson Funeral Home, Steelville, MO.

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