Jim Sanders, co-founder of Sanders Nursery, dies

From WNLA:

Jim Leon Sanders was born in Tahlequah, Oklahoma, August 7, 1944 to Sam Houston and Dora (Dickson) Sanders. Jim passed at Hillcrest Hospital in Tulsa, Oklahoma on May 31, with his family by his side. He was 70 years old.

Sanders attended Tahlequah High School where he met and married Maryellen Smith. She would become his loving wife of 53 years.

Jim went into the nursery business founding Sanders Nursery in 1968 with his father Sam Sanders and brothers Jack G. Sanders and Mitchell Sanders. The business has thrived for more than 47 years, surviving economic ups and downs specializing in ornamental shade trees and Junipers. Jim was a longtime member of the Oklahoma Nurserymen and Landscape Association. He was selected Nurseryman of the Year in 1999 by the OLNA.

Jim loved fishing, he fished many streams, lakes, and rivers from Canada to Montana, Wyoming, and Colorado. He vacationed in Colorado with family at the family cabin near Creede Colorado several times a year. He loved driving the jeep roads and watching the local wildlife, bears elk, lynx, and deer where all were abundant in the area.

Jim was preceded in death by his parents; and sister Gail Leep.

Jim is survived by is loving wife Maryellen Sanders of the home in Locust Grove, OK; two sons, Jimmy Dean Sanders and wife Stacy, and Lt. Colonel Jackie Dale Sanders, all of Inola, Oklahoma; two grandchildren, Joseph Aaron Sanders and Sara Makayla Sander; as well as a host of other friends and loved ones.

Funeral services for Sanders, 70, of Locust Grove, Oklahoma will be held Thursday June 4, at 2:00 pm at Green Country Funeral Home. Officiating will be Reverend Mark Hester. Pallbearers are Joseph Sanders, Marvin Wayne Page, David Metz, Mitch Sanders, Matt Sanders and Clint Dirteater. Interment will be held in the Tahlequah City Cemetery under the care of Green Country Funeral Home. Online condolences may be left at www.tahlequahfuneral.com.