Anita Grey Sanders

We are sad to announce the passing of our dear mother Anita Grey Sanders at the age of 88. Anita was born on May 24th, 1934 in Essex, England and died February 3rd, 2023 in San Antonio, Texas. She immigrated to the United States in the 1950’s and lived and worked in Chicago as a factory worker while raising three children. Upon the death of her husband she and her children moved to Laredo, Texas. This is where Anita met her second husband Alsey P. Sanders. After Alsey passed away Anita moved to San Antonio, Texas with her daughter and her family. In 2004, Anita moved to Corpus Christi, Texas to live with her eldest son, Michael. In 2018, Anita once again moved back to San Antonio, Texas to live with her daughter, Joan and lived here until the remainder of her life. Upon her death, she was surrounded by loved ones after a long battle with Dementia.

She is survived by her three children: Michael J. Parker (Cecile), Joan Simonds (Bruce) and Ernie Pena (Alice) and her three step-children: Gwendolyn Sanders, Terence Sanders and John Sanders. She has three grandchildren: Malissa Blacklock (Lauren), David Simonds and Michael Stephen Parker. Anita also has two great grandchildren: Olivia Grey Blacklock and Stella Ryan Blacklock.

Anita was a member of the Church of Christ in Laredo, Texas. She loved fishing in Port Isabel, Texas and hunting at the Callaghan Ranch in Laredo with her husband Alsey. As a member of a Laredo Crochet Club, she frequently crocheted newborn caps and bedspreads and donated them to Mercy Hospital as well as to Laredo and Nuevo Laredo orphanages. Anita was also an avid gardener with an immaculate garden full of roses, crepe myrtles, marigolds and Purple Martin bird houses and bird baths. She provided a natural safe habitat for birds and squirrels and an occasional raccoon and possum. She enjoyed painting, decorating, flea markets and Goodwill. Anita knitted dolls, sweaters and scarves for gifting. Anita loved poetry, Agatha Christie, her dogs and her morning cup o’ tea.

The funeral will be a private ceremony with family members present. Our precious mother will be laid to rest in Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery with her beloved husband, Alsey Philip Sanders. She will be forever dearly missed and loved.