Paul James Sanders

Gordonville ~ Paul James Sanders, 69, a retired Bell Helicopter employee passed away unexpectedly Tuesday, May 20, 2014 in Sherman, Texas.

Celebration of his life may be held at a later date.

Paul was born towards the end of WWII on February 28, 1945 to a beautiful English lady, Ellen Mary Carson and an American GI, Kirby Michael Sanders in Grimsby, England. Paul and his mother moved to America when he was a year old to join his father and made their home in Dallas.  Paul grew up in Grand Prairie, graduated from North Grand Prairie High School and received an associate’s degree from the University of Texas at Arlington.  He was a supervisor for Bell Helicopter and retired after 40 years of dedicated service.  Paul loved hot rods, fast cars and was a fan of blown fuel drag boat racing.  He was a kind person, and had a very gentle spirit. His philosophy was everybody was entitled to their own opinions, never to judge and to live and let live. Paul had a strong shoulder to lean on when you needed him and seemed to always have the right solution.

Paul married his sweetheart and love of his life Mary Messer on February 11, 1998 in Roanoke, Texas. Shortly before he retired they moved to Gordonville near Lake Texhoma and created a beautiful home and their little piece of heaven.  Paul in his opinion became the grill master and perfected the methods of how to smoke meat on his smoker. He loved to garden and was quite proud when he had the biggest tomatoes.  Paul loved his family and treasured time spent together.

Paul’s passing has forever changed our lives and he will be sorely and deeply missed. Nothing can ever change what we have always been and always will be to each other.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his infant daughter, Kimberly Sanders and his brother, Michael Sanders.

Those left behind to cherish his memory are his loving and very devoted wife of 16 years, Mary Sanders; his children, Jason Sanders, Christina Wood and husband Danny, Melissa Baker and husband Dale, and Theresa Arment and husband Travis; his grandchildren, Nicholas, Katie and Morgan Wood, Derrick and Daniel Walls; his sister and best friend, Debra Sanders Rich and husband James; his nephews, Curt Sanders and wife Maria, and Scott Sanders; his mother in law, he called “Gertrude”, Virginia Pursley; his fur-babies, Spicy and Sandy; other family members and a host of loving neighbors and friends.

Christian-Hawkins Funeral Home, Boyd, Texas-940-433-5310