Flora Helen Sanders

Flora Helen Sanders, 93, of Midland, Texas, passed away on September 6, 2017 at her home with her son, Mike, at her bedside. Flora Helen Sanders was born on July 17, 1924, in Whiteland, Texas, to Sam Houston Wootan and Lillie Tennessee Wootan. She never liked the name \Flora\ so she went by Helen, though at one time a childhood friend's younger brother couldn't say her name, so he would announce to his sister and the neighborhood, \Hel's coming! Hel's coming!\ She grew up in Mason during the Great Depression. Life was hard and Helen learned from a very early age about hard work and to always do your best and do it right the first time. Helen learned how to be frugal and not waste money. She was always putting others first and herself last. She lost her mother when she was 12 years old. Her father made her quit school in the 7th grade, \You've learned enough,\ he said; and she went to work in the cotton fields. She also had to learn how to cook and wash and iron and keep a spotless house from that time on. She began to raise her 7 year old little brother Sam. Years later Helen would smile to herself after hearing other women sigh with fatigue and complain about having to do 3 loads of laundry–in the automatic washer and dryer. For Helen \doing the laundry\ meant walking to the creek to fill a bucket of water–making at least 2 trips, boiling the water, washing the clothes on a scrub board, hanging them to dry, taking them down, ironing with a hot iron (one that rested on a fire) and folding them up. Helen would shake her head and say \Oh, if these girls only knew\. Later on she worked at B.F. Gooch dry goods store. She married Marvin Edgar Sanders on June 7, 1947 after he returned from the war.They moved to Midland, Texas, October 31, 1954. While Marvin worked as a carpenter, Helen did washing and ironing to support their family which now included two sons, Marty Howard Sanders and Michael Glen Sanders. She was a devoted mother, wife, and homemaker. She spent countless hours in and out of hospitals and rehabs with her son, Marty, who born with cerebral palsy had to endure many operations. Helen was a rock of strength not only to her family, but to other mothers going through the same thing. As the boys grew and started school, Helen worked at the Midland Lee Youth Center and Midland High Youth Center where she served many meals to the high school students and listened to their problems and offered help and wise advice. It seemed that everywhere she went people were pouring out their hearts and burdens to her. She never understood why, but those who knew her did, because she was a compassionate listener. She never thought much of herself often saying, \I don't do anything for the Lord.\ Yet she spent many hours praying for family, friends, and loved ones. Imagine the countless number of people in heaven surrounding her saying \Thank You. You changed my life.\ Won't she be surprised.Helen loved baking and cooking for others, gardens and gardening, reading her Bible, and sitting with Marty doing crossword puzzles. She so looked forward to her short trips to the market and Dollar Store with Marty and at times with Mike. She, Mike, and Marty spent many days in church learning of God, loving God, and loving and serving others. Helen blessed people everywhere she went with her kind words, hugs, cakes and cookies, and whole meals–and she never realized it. She was a faithful friend, a true friend, and because she loved, she told the truth, even when it hurt.Even in all of her hospital stays with two back surgeries and two broken hips, the staff referred to her as \grandma\, \your mom is so sweet\ \she is such a great patient\, \she's a tough old bird\. Tough. Helen faced many hard things in life, but she never let herself get bitter. She had a wonderful husband, two loving sons, and God's grace to keep her. She was always thanking God whatever the situation for the Bible said, \…in all things, give thanks.\ She knew better than to thank God for the hard things, but she thanked Him for the grace to make it through.At the age of 90 Helen gave up her \freedom\ (her driver's license). Traffic was just getting to be too much. She lost her beloved son, Marty, in August of 2016. She lived with a grieving heart until her death, and yet, thanking God for His goodness every day. Helen lived at home with her husband Marvin after Marty passed. She broke another hip in November and stayed in the hospital and Manor Park until January 2017. Again, she was everyone's grandma, sweet, funny, and even when she was cross, it was hard not to smile or laugh. Helen's mind was beginning to slip away and she was often in other times of her life and perceiving things in unusual ways. Most times she knew who everyone was, but at times she forgot who you were. Nevertheless, she was quick to pray for you, and somehow always knew what to pray!On June 7, 2017, Marvin and Helen Sanders celebrated 70 years of marriage. She still remembered who Marvin was. With a softness in her eyes, she thanked God for a good man. With her mind slipping, it seemed that each time she woke from a nap, she thought it was the next day. She greeted Marvin at the kitchen table with a \love you, honey\, \Good morning\ regardless of the time of day. They still held hands and kissed when they could get the wheelchairs close together. At this point in their lives, each wake from a nap was a new day. And each \new day\ brought another chance to say \good morning\, \I love you\, \God bless you\ and \thank you, Jesus\. The Lord is good.Helen is preceded in death by her parents, brothers and sisters, her husband Marvin who passed on July 7, 2017 (exactly one month after their 70th anniversary) and her son Marty who passed in August of 2016. She is survived by her son and daughter-in-law Mike and Marlene Sanders of Midland. Her \grandsons\ Little Gili, Christian, and Michael Lopez were a great joy to her. Helen is also survived by her brother Sam Houston Wootan and his wife Paula, of Midland.The family would like to express their gratitude to the Lopez family, who were a real part of the Sanders family: Gili and Maribel Lopez, and their sons, Gili, Jr., Christian, and Michael. They would also like to thank Larry and Emily Marruffo and their son Lorenzo, for all they do–just like family. Many thanks also to Pastor Mark Bristow, Pastor Craig DeArmond, Pastor Jerry Murphy, Brother Bob Porterfield, and Pastor Paul and Barbara Weymouth, for their prayers and spiritual leadership and friendship. Many thanks to Arcelia Nunez(Sally) and her family for their devoted service to Marvin and Helen as caregiver and friends, Josie Molina and Susie Valdez for stepping up when Marvin and Helen needed someone to watch and care. Thanks also to Comfort Keepers and Hospice of Midland. A special thanks to Eric Baeza and the other nurses with Home Hospice and the caregivers at Manor Park, the \big guys\ Andy and Art, and the sweet girls, Elaine and Casey.The family is also grateful for the doctors and nursing staff at Midland Memorial Hospital for their tender care and medical expertise. A special thanks goes out to Dr. Jubal Reed and his staff.The family will be accepting friends from 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm on Tuesday, September 12, 2017 at Nalley-Pickle & Welch Funeral Home. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 am on Wednesday, September 13, 2017 at the Nalley-Pickle & Welch Chapel. Interment will follow at Resthaven Memorial Park.Pallbearers will be Gili Lopez, Jr., Christian Lopez, Michael Lopez, Jim Elliott, Bruce Williams, and Ed Mendez.Arrangements are under the directions of Nalley-Pickle & Welch Funeral Home of Midland. Online condolences may be made at www.npwelch.com.,