Don was born February 5, 1940, in Childress, Texas, to R.J. and Ethel Sanderson. He lived in a few different localities in Texas, but finally settled in Earth and Lazbuddie. He graduated from Springlake-Earth ISD, worked on the family farm, and then joined the Army, being stationed in Germany. Eventually he did undergrad studies in Spanish at Odessa Junior College. While in Odessa, he attended a home prayer group. There he met and married Yvonne Cockrum on June 7, 1981. They began their life together by moving to the farm in the Lazbuddie area. At the end of summer, they moved back to Odessa and lived there until they both retired from the ECISD.

Having a good work ethic, he was successful achieving many different occupations. He was an excellent farmer, served in the Army as the captain driving “Atomic Annie”, returned home and earned his pilot’s license to help his brother-in-law with crop dusting, became a large crane operator, pushed a gang in the oil fields of Ector County, was licensed as a Pest Control exterminator, and was promoted yard foreman of all the campuses for ECISD. He served as an elder in a Midland church, which prepared him to become an ordained minister, and founded and pastored Lakeside Christian Center at Lake Brownwood.

In addition to serving in those various capacities, he enjoyed fishing, playing pool, riding his bicycle long distances (Odessa to Amarillo), and had a natural talent but studied theories of playing a trap set at church. He was an avid student of the Bible, committed many scriptures to memory, and was also known for speaking one-sentence sermons. The theme of his life was to LIVE THE WORD.

Don is survived by his wife Yvonne; a daughter, Debra Kay Payne of Hale Center, Texas; another daughter, Donna Gail Mulkey and her husband Johnny of Plainview, Texas; and a son, Brian Wayne Sanderson and his wife Heather of Missouri City, Texas. There are six grandchildren: Austin Wayne DeBerry and his wife of Lubbock, Breanna Kay Payne of Lubbock, Bryson Ray DeBerry and his wife Valory of Dallas, Kristen Leigh Payne of Lubbock, Caden Wayne Sanderson and Madeline Kate Sanderson of Missouri City. There is one great granddaughter: Braelyn Payne of Lubbock. Don has one sister: Linda Collins and her husband Johnny of Earth, and a sister-in-law Carolyn Sanderson of Lubbock. He has been blessed with a number of nieces and nephews as well as many dear friends.

Don was preceded in death by his parents, R.J. and Ethel Sanderson, and his brother Bob Sanderson.

Online condolences can be shared with the family at www.heartlandfuneralhome.net