Mary R Sanderford (Coleman)

Mary Sanderford Obituary

Mary Ruth (Coleman) Sanderford passed away on February 16^th at home.  Mary was born July 26, 1938 in Oklahoma City, OK to Bill and Sylva Coleman. She grew up in Tulsa with her two sisters, Robin Barrett and Becky Moore and favorite brother, Bob Coleman.   Mary was baptized in the First Christian Church in Wewoka, OK and spent summers in Lake City, CO with her family.  After she graduated from High School in 1956 she had plans to become a flight attendant.

Those plans changed as she married the love of her life, Billy Sanderford, on September 30, 1957.  They met the prior year in Monticello, UT where Billy worked for a seismograph company.  They had 4 children; Chris (Peggy) Sanderford, Lin Sanderford, Kevin (Jennifer) Sanderford and Sylva (Dale) Sanderford along with 10 grandchildren and 9 great grandchildren.   Mary and Billy recently celebrated 61 years of marriage.  Mary was preceded in death by her parents and her grandson, Damian Zubia.

Mary was a loving wife, mother, grandmother and great grandmother.  She devoted much of her life to caring for her family.  She always had hugs and special treats for the grandkids and delighted in spoiling them.

Mary (Mom) loved people and had an adventurous side to her.  She took flight lessons as well as enjoyed writing short stories.  She had a great sense of humor and delighted in writing a letter to her oldest son’s Navy ship captain, detailing Chris’ dietary preferences and insisting that the captain take good care of her son.  Luckily the captain also had a good sense of humor.

After Mary retired from the Calcasieu Parish School District central office, she and Billy spent several years traveling the country in their motorhome.  There were lots of adventures (most involved motorhome insurance claims) as they drove up to Alaska and all around the lower 48.  Mary also enjoyed lots of overseas trips and was especially fond of her time spent in Bolivia (her one and only time in jail).  Who knew you had to fly the flag on flag day?  Mary proudly kept the Bolivian flag that she purchased once she made bail.

Mary and Billy moved to Colorado in 2007 to be closer to the grandkids and were fortunate to live close to the mountains.  Mom delighted in the first snow of each year and looked forward to seeing all of our local deer (most of whom she fed). She enjoyed attending Grace Community Church when she was still driving.

Mom recently moved out of Brookdale and was fortunate to live with her son, Lin, who cared for her as only a son or daughter could.  She was also fortunate in that Maria Baca was there to help care for her and keep her well fed.

Mom is in a much better place now.  We would like to thank the great family at Montrose Memorial for their loving care and and we would never have been able to have Mom at home without Hope West Hospice keeping her comfortable and providing their loving care.  The family does ask that you not send flowers but maybe consider donating to Hospice or your local church youth group.

A memorial service in planned for February 22nd at 1:00pm at Brookdale Senior Living Center.

Crippin Funeral Home and Crematory is assisting the family.