Mary Ellen Sanders
October 17, 1935 — September 12, 2014
Mary Ellen Freemyer Sanders was born to Lewis and Alta Freemyer on October 17, 1935 at Grove, OK. She was the oldest of six children, three brothers, David Freemyer of Dallas, TX., Howard Freemyer of Tulsa, OK., and Rev. Ken Freemyer, deceased. She had two sisters, Doris Ann Coulter of Sherman, TX and Carol (Mo) Moss of Salina, OK. She is also survived her selected (adopted) childre...
Mary Ellen Freemyer Sanders was born to Lewis and Alta Freemyer on October 17, 1935 at Grove, OK. She was the oldest of six children, three brothers, David Freemyer of Dallas, TX., Howard Freemyer of Tulsa, OK., and Rev. Ken Freemyer, deceased. She had two sisters, Doris Ann Coulter of Sherman, TX and Carol (Mo) Moss of Salina, OK. She is also survived her selected (adopted) children, Nelson, whose whereabouts are unknown, Michael and Shelly Sanders of Las Cruces, NM and Michelle Hillen of Amarillo, TX; five grandchildren, Cariel Sanders, Kyrsti Sanders, Connor Sanders, Anthony Hillen, and Bryan Hillen; two great grandchildren, Rachael Sanders and David Michael Apodaca. The Freemyer family moved to Southwest City, MO. in 1937 where she lived until her graduation from high school in 1953. In September of 1953, she entered the St. John's School of Nursing in Tulsa, OK. She graduated as a registered nurse (R.N.) in September, 1956. In the Spring of 1954, while attending a revival meeting, she met her future husband, Bob Sanders. On October 5, 1956, they were married in the same church where they met. Bob had surrendered to the music ministry and together they served churches in Oklahoma, Missouri, and Arizona. Mary Ellen served several positions in the medical field while Bob served in churches. She was a Surgical Nurse, Director of Surgery, Director of Nursing, School Nurse, County health Nurse, Diabetic Research Nurse, Industrial Nurse, Jail Nurse, and Mental He...
Mary Ellen Freemyer Sanders was born to Lewis and Alta Freemyer on October 17, 1935 at Grove, OK. She was the oldest of six children, three brothers, David Freemyer of Dallas, TX., Howard Freemyer of Tulsa, OK., and Rev. Ken Freemyer, deceased. She had two sisters, Doris Ann Coulter of Sherman, TX and Carol (Mo) Moss of Salina, OK. She is also survived her selected (adopted) children, Nelson, whose whereabouts are unknown, Michael and Shelly Sanders of Las Cruces, NM and Michelle Hillen of Amarillo, TX; five grandchildren, Cariel Sanders, Kyrsti Sanders, Connor Sanders, Anthony Hillen, and Bryan Hillen; two great grandchildren, Rachael Sanders and David Michael Apodaca. The Freemyer family moved to Southwest City, MO. in 1937 where she lived until her graduation from high school in 1953. In September of 1953, she entered the St. John's School of Nursing in Tulsa, OK. She graduated as a registered nurse (R.N.) in September, 1956. In the Spring of 1954, while attending a revival meeting, she met her future husband, Bob Sanders. On October 5, 1956, they were married in the same church where they met. Bob had surrendered to the music ministry and together they served churches in Oklahoma, Missouri, and Arizona. Mary Ellen served several positions in the medical field while Bob served in churches. She was a Surgical Nurse, Director of Surgery, Director of Nursing, School Nurse, County health Nurse, Diabetic Research Nurse, Industrial Nurse, Jail Nurse, and Mental Health Nurse. She served three short term medical mission tours in Honduras. Every time Bob changed churches, she changed positions. In October 2004 Bob retired from the full time ministry and they moved to Las Cruces, NM. She was going to retire, but the word spread that she was a nurse, and she soon agreed to go to work at Mesilla Valley Psychiatric Hospital. In May of 2011 her health got to the point that she had to retire after 58 years of nursing. In January 2004 she and Bob joined First Baptist church, Las Cruces. She continued to serve in her own way. She was fondly known by many as "THE TAB LADY". She collected the pull-tabs from cans and sent them to the Ronald McDonald House at the St. Jude Hospital for Children in Memphis, TN. Mary Ellen passed from this life to her eternal home on Friday, September 12, 2014 at the age of 78. She is survived by her family and many loving friends. Pallbearers are Anthony Hillen, Bryan Hillen, Connor Sanders, Clifford Tyree, George Wolfe, and Jon Bridges. A visitation will be held on Monday, September 15, 2014 from 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm, at Getz Funeral Home 1410 E. Bowman Ave, Las Cruces NM 88001. Funeral services will be Tuesday, September 16, 2014 at 10:00 am, at First Baptist Church, Las Cruces, NM. Interment will be at Ft. Bliss Cemetery at 1:30 pm following the service. In lieu of flowers please make donations to The Gideons International, P.O. Box 140800, Nashville, Tennessee 37214-0800.
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