Dora Jean Sanderford

Dora Jean McDonald Sanderford of Midland, TX, devoted follower of Christ, beloved wife, mother, grandmother, and great grandmother went to her heavenly reward on December 3, 2020.  A visitation will begin at 6:00 p.m. on Thursday, December 10, 2020, at Nalley-Pickle & Welch Funeral Home & Crematory in Midland, Texas.  Services will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, December 12, 2020 at Wilkerson-Hatch-Bailey Funeral Home in Waco, Texas.  Interment will follow at Waco Memorial Park.

Dora Sanderford was born at home on April 6, 1925 in the Antelope Community of Coryell County, Texas to Nathan and Isabell McDonald.  She grew up on a ranch with 5 brothers and 2 sisters, and loved the outdoors and sports.  She played basketball and volleyball in high school, and won state awards in speech and debate.  She accepted Jesus Christ as her Lord and Savior when she was 10 years old, and led many of her friends to Christ.  She met her husband, the love of her life, Matthew A. Sanderford, at a revival camp meeting where he was a young Baylor ministerial student and the preacher for the revival.  They married in 1943, and pastored several small churches where they had a passion for missions.  She attended Mary Hardin-Baylor for a short time before joining her husband in Germany after WWII.  Upon their return to the States, they attended Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, and in 1952 were appointed as Southern Baptist missionaries to Uruguay, South America.  Regardless of what challenge came up, or what service she was asked to do, everyone knew that she was willing to give it her best shot because she truly believed Philippians 4:13 “I can do all things through Him who gives me strength.”   Dora loved starting kindergarten classes to get children to come to the church, and reach their parents.  She wrote the curriculum for mission organizations (GA, Sunbeam, WMU) for all the South American countries and traveled throughout South and Central America teaching and training.  In 1961 they were transferred to El Paso, Texas to serve as missionaries at the Baptist Spanish Publishing House where she translated and wrote curriculum for the mission organizations in Spanish.  She and her husband served 35 years as missionaries, and traveled to more than 37 countries around the world including all the South and Central American countries, Europe, Germany, and South Korea.  After retirement they moved to Waco, Texas and served in whatever capacity they could find at Columbus Avenue Baptist Church.   She especially enjoyed teaching Spanish to foreign students, and English as a second language.  Dora always found ways to serve people, start new organizations, share her love of Christ, and reach out to foreign students wherever she was.  She never backed down from a challenge or a fight, and was willing to put herself out there to get the job done.  She always said, “God doesn’t call the equipped, He equips the called” and she was living proof of that.  Dora Jean knew how to be content wherever she was and never complained about her circumstances, but instead found ways to glorify God in every situation and bring joy to others.

Dora is survived by her four children: Matthew A. Sanderford, Jr. and wife, Margarita of Weatherford, Texas; Sharon Jean Cummings and husband Larry of Round Rock, Texas; Lee Bell Ulvestad and husband Gregg of Midland, Texas; and John Mark Sanderford and wife Susan of Midland, Texas.  She is also survived by 10 grandchildren, 23 great grandchildren, 1 great great grandchild, and numerous nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her husband of 60 years, Matthew A. Sanderford, her parents, all of her brothers and sisters, and one grandchild.

The family would like to express their gratitude towards Ashton Medical Lodge, Interim Hospice, and all the wonderful nurses and caretakers who made her last days peaceful.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Lottie Moon Christmas offering in care of Wilshire Park Baptist Church, 801 S. Bentwood, Midland, TX  79703.

Arrangements are under the direction of Nalley-Pickle & Welch Funeral Home & Crematory of Midland.  Online condolences may be made at www.npwelch.com.