Merrill "Buddy" G. Sanders

Tuscaloosa – Merrill “Buddy” Sanders, age 82, passed away on December 6th , 2021. Graveside services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Friday December 10th, 2021 at Memory Hill Gardens, Garden of the Sermon on the Mount, with Rev. Rick Mitchell officiating, and under the direction of Memory Chapel, a Dignity memorial provider. Mr. Sanders is survived by his wife of 58 years, Pat Sanders, his sons Greg Sanders (Polly) and Gary Sanders (Angie), six grandchildren; Eric Sanders, Blake Richard, Marina Richard (Jerome), Austin Horton, Nicholas Jones, Lily Sanders and two great-grandchildren, Jesse and Julia Richard.

Pallbearers will be Eric Sanders, Jerome Richard Jr., Joshua Burkhalter, David Burkhalter, Nicholas Jones, Dewayne Burkhalter

Buddy graduated high school from County High in 1958. Before graduating high school, he began working in the automotive industry in the eleventh grade, where he would continue to work for 54 years. In 1963, he married the love of his life, Pat Sanders and they were able to share 58 years together. Buddy loved fishing, NASCAR, football, his TV shows and sweets.

Buddy Sanders had a beautiful gift of being able to light up any room he was in. The special part about his gift is the way he did it. Sometimes he would light the room with epic his sense of humor. There were other times he could do it with very few words at all and just by being in the presence of the positivity brought with him everywhere. His soft, calm, and loving nature wasn’t just something a person only observed but it was felt when you were around him.

Buddy was the kind of person you didn’t have to spend a lot of time with before learning just how big God made his heart. You could spend a brief amount of time with him and see how genuine and selfless he was. His kindness was as infectious as his smile. The selfless nature he had touched others and had an influence on many. He made you want to be someone as caring, thoughtful, and selfless as he was.

Buddy’s dependability was unmatched. If there was something asked of him or someone in need there was no stopping until it was finished or delivered. There was never an obstacle that could impede him following through with is word or the task at hand. He was always devoted to his family. Buddy was a true role model of a man, husband, father, grandparent, friend, son, and brother.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.MemoryChapelFuneralHome.com for the Sanders family.