Grant Lyman Sanders Obituary

Grant Lyman Sanders Obituary

Grant Lyman Sanders, 62, and Priscilla Ann Sanders, 60, died as a result of injuries sustained in an automobile accident between Lovell and Greybull, Wyo. on April 20, 1997. In life, as in death, Grant and Patty were united in purpose and love for their church and family. Their unwavering commitment to righteous principles became the hallmark of their service to God, family and community.

Grant was born on April 22, 1934, in Otto, Wyo. He graduated from Greybull High School in 1952, and attended the University of Wyoming and later Northwest Community College in Powell from 1952 to 1954. From May of 1954 to May of 1956 he served a full-time mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Indiana and Ohio where he met Priscilla Ann Spaugh. He and Priscilla (Patty) were married on August 29, 1956, in the Idaho Falls LDS Temple.

Patty was born on June 7, 1936, in Harrison Township, Bartholomew County, Ind. She graduated from Jackson High School in Indiana in 1954. Before her marriage to Grant in 1956 she attended Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah.

In 1962, Grant and Patty moved to Glenrock, Wyo. where Grant taught sixth grade. In 1969, Grant enrolled at BYU and began work on a Master's degree in Educational Administration. Later that same year they moved to Byron where Grant taught junior high and high school English until 1972. Grant received his Master's degree in August of 1972, and took a job as the principal of Byron School in the summer of 1974. In 1983, Gant became principal of the newly created Rocky Mountain High School. In July of 1985, Gant was appointed superintendent of Big Horn County School District No. 1 where he continued in that position until his death.

In 1977, Grant was elected to the Wyoming State House of Representatives where he served as chairman of the Labor, Health and Social Services Committee. He later completed a four-year term as a member of the Wyoming State Board of Education and has served two different terms as a member of the Wyoming High School Activities Association Board of Directors.

While Patty never sought worldly recognition, she felt it a tremendous honor to be a mother. Her desires and joys were always with her family. She is honored by her family as a counselor, comforter, teacher and a elect lady.

Both Grant and Patty considered the education of their children one of their greatest accomplishments. All 13 graduated from high school in Byron. Nine have college degrees, seven with bachelor's degrees and two with associate degrees. Four have master's degrees. Three are currently enrolled in college.

They have served faithfully in numerous positions of responsibility in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints throughout their lives and found great joy in their church activities.

Grant was preceded in death by his father, Elden Sanders. He is survived by his mother Isabelle Sanders of Otto, Wyoming; seven brothers and sisters, Richard Sanders of Basin, Leon Sanders of Powell, Dorothy Lytle of Salt Lake City, Utah, Merrill Sanders of St. George, Utah, Paul Sanders of Logan, Utah, Elden Sanders of Byron and Ellen Gotfredson of Worland.

Patty was preceded in death by her mother and father, Elizabeth and Walter Spaugh. She is survived by five brothers and sisters, Kenneth Spaugh of Columbus, Ind., Linda Wright of Franklin, Ind., Wendell Scott Spaugh of Hope, Ind., Nina Meals of Chesterfield, Mo., and Charles Spaugh of Seymour, Ind.

Grand and Patty are survived by their 13 children and 34 grandchildren. Surviving children are daughter and son-in-law Julie and Mark Averett of Cedar City, Utah, son and daughter-in-law Daniel and Kelli Sanders of Orem, Utah, daughter and son-in-law Rebecca and Lynn George of Cody, son and daughter-in-law Nathan and Carolyn Sanders of Delta, Utah, daughter Karma Sanders of LaCrosse, Kan., son and daughter-in-law Jared and Heather Sanders of Orlando, Fla., daughter Jeanna Sanders of Afton, son and daughter-in-law Benjamin and DeAnn Sanders of Orlando., Fl., son and daughter-in-law Philip and Amy Sanders of Greenville, Texas, daughter and son-in-law Rachel and Brett George of Chadron, Neb., son and daughter-in-law Grant and Caralee Sanders of Salem, Utah, sons Joshua and Caleb Sanders of Byron.

A viewing will be held from 6 to 9 p.m., Thursday, April 24, 1997, at Haskell Funeral Home in Lovell. Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. on Friday, April 25, 1997, in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Stake Center in Lovell with interment in the Byron Cemetery.

Memorial donations may be made in care of Jeanna or Karma Sanders, P.O. Box 182, Byron, Wyo. 82412