Mabel Irene Little

Mabel Irene Saunders Little was born September 21, 1937 in Robinette, West Virginia to Reverend Ollie Forrest Saunders and Martha Estep Saunders. The youngest of six surviving children, Mabel died as she lived, gently and surrounded by love, on May 7, 2026, in Fort Worth, Texas, at the age of 88.

Known as one of the “Saunders Sisters”, she made a splash in Huntington society. Beautiful and vivacious, the Sisters were the talk of the town. Oldest sister Wilma shared her stylish wardrobe with Mabel and helped to support her through college.

As a student at Huntington High School, she was a cheerleader, head majorette, and homecoming queen. She then attended Marshall University, where she excelled in academics and received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Elementary Education. Mabel was also the head majorette as well as the homecoming queen in 1958. She continued post-graduate studies at the University of Texas, Arlington.

It was at Marshall that she was introduced to the handsome baseball pitcher, Carl Little, in the Student Union. The first time they met, he told her, “I think I’m going to marry you.” and she responded, “And I think you’re crazy.” Three months later, they were engaged, and they married December 19, 1959.

Mabel had a magical way with children. She taught thousands of elementary students to read in diverse settings from two-room schoolhouses to open concept classrooms. She used her creativity to invent songs and poems to teach vowels, consonants, and grammar concepts. Mabel accomplished one of her most impressive professional achievements in the early ‘70s, when she pioneered the Appalachian Educational Laboratory in Charleston, West Virginia. As a specialist writing curriculum for an early education research program for rural children funded through the US Department of Education, Mabel created teaching modules, and wrote scripts and curricula for the children’s television show, Around the Bend.

Because of Carl’s career in the travel industry, they moved many times throughout the years. Mabel created beautiful homes in Maryland, West Virginia, Texas, Tennessee, and Utah. Another perk of Carl’s career was a chance to travel the world. Memorable trips included London, Japan for adopted son, Hiroki's wedding, the British Isles, France, Hong Kong, Hawaii, Mexico and the Caribbean islands.

Mabel inherited a green thumb from her father, at one point caring for fifty flourishing rose bushes in our Texas garden. She gave the same care and attention to her three sons. Every birthday was a national holiday, with beautiful homemade cakes waiting on the kitchen table in the morning, surrounded by presents. She attended every soccer, baseball game, play, ballet, piano recital, and opera performance, with the same loving enthusiasm--all while working full time. Mabel’s generous nurturing nature also extended beyond her immediate family to encompass nieces and nephews, neighborhood children, her sons’ friends, and many others. Her home and her heart were always open to anyone in need of care, a hot meal, or a place to shelter.

In her later years, Mabel developed dementia, but she never lost her sweet personality or brilliant creativity. At one point, much to our amazement, she went through a period of speaking only rhymed couplets in iambic pentameter. Always a music and dance lover, Mabel never forgot how to jitterbug or sing beloved songs.

Deceased family members include father Reverend Ollie Saunders, mother Martha Saunders, brothers Homer and Ralph Saunders, sisters Wilma Drinkard, Marlene Casto, Alice Fricke, and infant Gloria Ann Saunders.

Mabel is survived by loving husband Carl Little; sons Kevin (Andrew Roth), Kent, Kelly (Carla), and Hiroki Yagi, her Japanese son; grandchildren James Rhodes (Brittany) and Hailey Little; great grandchildren Lincoln and Monroe Rhodes; sister in law Mary Lou Heatherly; and a whole passel of beloved Saunders and Little nieces and nephews.

The family would like to extend sincere thanks to caretakers Robyn Basiliere, Connie Reed, Evelyn Trujillo, the staff at Westmore Senior Living, and dear friends Charles and Sheila Clawson.