BROOKSIE MARY SANDERS

A celebration of life service for Brooksie Mary (Butler) Sanders, age 97, lifelong resident of San Augustine were held Wednesday, February 7, 2024 at San Augustine Missionary Baptist Church with Rev. Ardis Mosby and Gordon Vaughn officiating. She peacefully passed away Sunday, February 4, 2024, in San Augustine. Brooksie was always colorful, outspoken and independent-minded, with only one way to do everything--her way.

Brooksie was born on a beautiful sunny day April 9, 1926, in a three-room house on the Bradberry farm in the Denning Community, being the third of four daughters born to Thomas Hardy Butler and Mary Elizabeth `Lizzie' Bradberry. She lived her entire life in the San Augustine Community attending Denning School. After graduation in 1945 from San Augustine High School, she married William Kirksey Sanders on November 17, 1945, in Sabine County. They remained in San Augustine where Kirk worked in the logging industry and here their four children were born and raised. When Kirk became ill in 1958, Brooksie began her employment career at the City Cafe. She tirelessly worked there seven days a week until the cafe closed in 1965. She worked a variety of jobs after the cafe until she was lastly employed by Nelsyn's Furniture, which she said was the best job she ever had because she loved her Nelsyn Furniture family. She retired from Nelsyn's Furniture Store after 20 years of employment.

She was a member of First Baptist Church, Rebekah Lodge, Friends of Mission Dolores, Red Hat Ladies, and Daughters of The Republic of Texas Ezekiel Cullen Chapter. She was a descendant of three Republic of Texas families: Jackson and Sarah Moore Fitzgerald, Green Berry and Rosalee Lindsey Quinn, Isaac Lindsey and Ester Quinn.

Brooksie's favorite past time was playing 42 weekly with "The 42 Bunch" for over 20 years. She was one of the last survivors of the original group and only stopped playing last year when her eyesight no longer allowed her to see the dots. She also enjoyed playing Mexican Train at First Baptist Church. She loved to travel and see the world with her friends, children, and niece Markett Harkinson. Brooksie traveled to all three countries on the North American Continent - Canada and extensively across the United States and Mexico. She enjoyed traveling to Caribbean Islands, Honduras, Belize, Roatan, Mexico City, Cozumel, Cancun and throughout the European countries of France, Belgium, The Netherlands and Switzerland. Brooksie was always the life of the party who never met a stranger. Her happiest days were dancing at the VFW on Saturday night. Her smile, quick wit, sense of humor and telling stories of her life will be missed.

Brooksie is survived by four children, daughters, Nancy Jane Mills and Connie Elaine Owens of San Augustine, Texas, Eve Vaughn Bradford (Brad) of Lucas, Texas, and son, Wayne Kirk Sanders (Cathy) of Nacogdoches, Texas; grandchildren, Karen Elaine Mills and Kenneth Michael Mills of San Augustine, Texas, Kristy Nicole Mills Stephens (Tony) of Albuquerque, New Mexico, Kerry Martin Mills of Dallas, Texas, Amy Elizabeth Owens (Michael Hodgkinson) of Houston, Texas, Kyle Wayne Sanders (Autumn) of Nacogdoches, Texas, and Matthew Ryan Bradford (Rashay) of Allen, Texas; step-granddaughters, Emily Meredith Owens Landrum (Kevin) of Memphis, Tennessee, and Jennifer Lynn Owens of Chicago, Illinois; great-grandchildren, Riley Stephens, Tanner Stephens, Nathaniel Bradford, and Zachary Bradford; step-great-grandchildren, Nicholas Owens Landrum, Cooper Landrum, Henry Sayre Mundt and Evie Maye Mundt; special nieces, Virginia Russell Moore and Markett Harkinson (Greg) of Lakeway, Texas; and nephews Keith Russell (Kim) of Marble Falls, Texas, and Tom Milstead (Reba) of Nacogdoches, Texas.

She is the last survivor of her family and her husband's immediate families.

Donations may be made to Thomas Cemetery, 4603 State Hwy. 147, San Augustine, TX 75972 or Daughters of the Republic of Texas Ezekiel Cullen Chapter, Donna Carrell, Treasurer, 502 N. Harrison St., San Augustine, TX 75972.

Visit www.WymanRobertsFuneralHome.com for memories and condolences.

Arrangements were under the direction of Wyman Roberts Funeral Home in San Augustine.

https://www.wymanrobertsfuneralhome.com/obituary/BrooksieMary-Sanders