Elsie Jean Sanders

Jean was born on Hwy 64 just outside of Canton on November 23, 1934. She was the last of seven children born to Hubert E. Beard and Elsie Beatrice Groves. She graduated from Canton High School in 1952 and continued her education at East Texas State in Commerce, Texas where she majored in music and received her teaching credentials. Her high school sweetheart was Bobby Sanders, son of Veta and L.F. Sanders, also of Canton. Bobby also attended East Texas State and the couple married in 1954.

Jean loved music and shared her talents as a public school music teacher and a church music director. She had several positions over the years, and was the music director for the First United Methodist Church of Canton until her retirement. She shared her love of music with many piano students throughout the years.

Jean's friends describe her as kind, smart, talented, and creative. She loved making art with dried flowers and she loved to cook.

She is preceded in death by her parents, siblings, her son, Samuel Sanders and her beloved husband, Bobby.

She is survived by: her daughter, Cindy Sanders McAllister; nieces: Laura Hutchings, Susan Holmes, Debbie Carfield, Karen Goode, and Barbara Beard; and nephews: Kenneth Satterwhite and Neil Beard.

A Celebration of Life Ceremony will be held in June. The date has not yet been determined.