Pauline Pearl Sanders

JULY 1, 1906 - December 3, 2011

Resident of Redding, California.

Pauline was born in Caney, Kansas. She was the second child of seven, born to Charles and Lovina Smith.

Pauline survived the Spanish flu which claimed so many lives after the first world war, she saw the "white light" but survived to live 105 years. She lost a year of high school recuperating but graduated at 16 and started teaching the next year. Her dream was to be a fashion designer or a newspaper reporter. She did eventually design and create many beautiful clothes.

Pauline married her high school sweetheart and they moved to the oil fields where his job was.

Her little brothers were sure she was marrying Roy the mailman as he delivered the ring my Dad sent.

Pauline and husband Ernie ultimately headed to California in their new model T Ford, driving over wooden roads in some parts of the west.

They built their first home in the New Mountain community of Aldercroft Heights near Los Gatos, South of San Francisco.

There they had daughter Lovina. The first child to be born on the mountain.

Later Pauline designed and helped build a beautiful home on the mountain top, and the couple took over the water company and swimming pool there.

During the war the couple worked in war plants, Pauline at Lewis Electronics.

Pauline and Ernie then spent several years in the construction business, doing highway clearing all up and down the west coast. Later moving to manage a huge cattle ranch east of Redding.

Ernie developed a physical problem resulting from being gored by a bull when young. The couple moved to Redding and bought and remodeled a house on Freebridge and Pauline, a lover of plants and flowers, went to work at Grandview Nursery on Railroad Avenue. She retired from there only to be asked to come back at age 75. Which she did and upon retiring the second time was able to turn her attention to her own huge garden.

Ernie died of cancer in 1992 and Pauline and her cat "Dingy" continued living in the Freebridge home. On Pauline's 100th birthday, daughter Lovina and son-in-law Jack threw a party with 150 plus attendees. Many cards, calls and letters came

from everywhere, from people whose lives she had touched.

Pauline's years began to catch up to her and she moved to Copper Ridge Care Center, where she has been lovingly cared for. Her 105th birthday was celebrated there with friends and relatives, the press was there and when asked how she liked the cake, she replied "well the cake is ok but I think i'd rather have a drink".

She was never at a loss for words and had a quick wit and sharp mind, up to her last days.

Pauline leaves her daughter Lovina smith and Son-In-Law Jack, grandsons, Steven and Mark Smith and great grandchildren, Kate, Chris, Liam, Makenna and Cassidy, also many nieces and nephews.

No funeral will be held. Donations may be made to a favorite charity.