Hale Jones Sanders
1919 ~ 2016

Hale Jones Sanders passed away March 7, 2016 in Grant City, Missouri.
He was born October 7, 1919 to Paul J. Sanders and Mary Ruth (Stevens) Sanders in Grant City.

On October 30, 1942 he was united in marriage to Evelyn McClain. They were married almost 69 years before Evelyn passed away April 3, 2011.

Hale served in the United States Army during the second World War achieving the rank of Chief Master Sergeant. After the war he returned home and started farming with his father near Sheridan, Missouri. Later they were joined by son-in-law Jack Thummel and son Jay Sanders. Together they formed Sanders Ranch, Inc. Hale was proud that his grandsons Jeff and Matt Thummel, P.J. Sanders and Les New had also joined in the farming operation.

Hale was a 1937 graduate of Sheridan High School and attended Missouri University at Columbia. He was a member of the Sheridan Christian Church where he had served many years as Sunday School Superintendent. Hale also was a former board member for Sheridan School Board, Board of Directors Citizen’s Bank at Grant City and the Worth County Convalescent Center. In 1997 Hale was inducted into the Nodaway County Agriculture Hall of Fame.

Preceding him in death were his parents; wife Evelyn; brothers Harry, Lewis and John Sanders; daughter Jackie Schmidt and a grandson Bradley Thummel.

Survivors include four children; Jay (Bonnie) Sanders and Ruth Ann (Jack) Thummel, both of Maryville, Missouri, Paula (Douglas) Caldwell, Greenfield, Iowa, his daughter and loving caretaker for several years Kimberly Sanders, Sheridan, Missouri and son-in-law Gary Schmidt, Webster City, Iowa. Hale is also survived by 13 grandchildren, several great grandchildren and a great-great grandson.

Funeral Services will be held 10:30 AM, Thursday, March 10 at the Sheridan Christian Church. The Rev. Delbert Biehle and Rev. Jeff Blaine officiating. There will be no formal visitation but friends may call at the Andrews-Hann Funeral Home in Grant City. Interment will be in the Grant City Cemetery. In Lieu of flowers memorials may be given to the Worth County Convalescent Center, Grant City.

Hale’s instructions were that the services be short and then everyone go home and back to work.