Keith Stratton (Sr.) Sanders

Keith Sanders

1951 - 2020

Keith Stratton Sanders Sr., age 69, passed away on June 21, 2020. He was born on March 10, 1951 to James Lloyd and Barbara Lou Crain Sanders.

The story of Keith’s life was one of a kind: reflecting his love for life and family, governed by his devoted character, and written with deeds that a common person would find remarkable, yet unbelievable. He could be slightly stubborn at times and believed in standing up for himself, but beneath his stouthearted exterior was a kind, gentle man that unconditionally loved and cared for others. Best described as a “McGyver” of sorts, he utilized his innate creativity and ingenuity to accomplish much and figure out just about anything. He was a natural storyteller, captivating friends and family while recounting his deeds, with details that made them seem artificial, but if you knew Keith, you knew he was there and it really happened, no matter how far-fetched it sounded. He probably invented something, who knows; most likely went on a hunt to find the reigning Hide & Seek world champion, Big Foot, that ever elusive and blurry, out of focus “Raven Mocker”; and remained undefeated in Scrabble, because of his proclivity to read the dictionary instead of actual books. Wood was his favorite color, and Keith was an accomplished and skilled carpenter. His “go big or go home” mentality was never more evident in his love for fishing, and if Keith could find water, he was going to fish. Though he loved a lot of things and people, nothing matched the love he had for his other half, Kathryn. He first saw her outside a diner in her hometown of Victoria, TX, and after he guessed her name right in one try, she agreed to go to lunch with him the next day. That lunch would lead to 36 years of intimacy that would last until her death in 2017. They shared a love for music, and when Kathy and Keith’s favorite song “Brown Eyed Girl” would play on the radio, he would often call to let her listen to it over the phone. Their love produced a legacy of children and, when he became a grandfather and “PQW”, grandchildren to continue to tell the story of this unique, hardworking, and special man. As he took his last mortal breath, it is doubtless that Keith opened his eyes in Heaven to look into the eyes of his “Brown Eyed Girl” and be forever reunited with his beloved Kathryn.

Left to honor his memory is his daughter, September Franks and husband, Jared, of Lumberton, TX; sons, Blake Worthington and wife, Tina, of Victoria, TX and Stratton Sanders Jr. and wife, Shana, of Lumberton, TX; sisters, Sherri Walker and husband, John, of Carlsbad, CA and Lisa Guill of Lynchburg, VA; brother, Tony Fields of Wewahitchka, FL; grandchildren, Laecey Repka, Sydney Worthington, Brooke Worthington, Caitlyn Worthington, Ashley Worthington, Layla Franks, Lane Franks, Kaylee Sanders, Carter Wilson, Claire Wilson and Olivia Sanders; great-grandchildren, Colt Repka, Stella Repka, December Schirmer, Delilah Schirmer and Parker Repka; and a host of friends, extended family and loved ones.

Preceding Keith in death is his beloved wife of 36 years, Kathryn Elaine Sanders; his parents; and sisters, Terri Fields and Nikki Steel.

Visitation with family and friends will be 6:00 to 8:00 p.m., Wednesday, June 24, 2020, at Lumberton Family Funeral Home, 766 S. Main St. Lumberton, TX. Keith’s life honoring service will be on Thursday, June 25, 2020 at 2:00 p.m., also at the funeral home, with Bro. Robert Hall officiating.

Serving as pallbearers will be Cody Sellers, Logan Sellers, Ben Mott, Jesse Ward, James Repka and Ryan Seamon.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Keith Stratton (Sr.) Sanders, please visit our floral store.