Janice Christian Sanders, daughter of Edward and Vera (Seegmiller) Christian and wife of Mart Lynn Sanders passed away peacefully on March 1, 2024, at the age of 88. Janice was born on Sept. 7, 1935, in St George, Utah. She grew up in Sand Town (St George, Utah). At the age of 17, she met Lynn Sanders at Dixie College. At the time Dixie High School and Dixie College had classes together. At a dance one evening Janice caught Lynn’s eye. He would find rides and even at times would walk from Hurricane to St. George so he could see her.
On Dec. 18, 1952, Lynn and Janice were sealed in the St George Temple. Shortly after they moved to Fort Ord, California, so Lynn could fulfill his military duties. They then moved back to St. George and then moved to Hurricane, Utah, where they raised their family.
While living in Hurricane, Janice was in the Primary presidency, Young Women presidency, Relief Society presidency, Ward organist and Primary organist. One of her favorite positions, however, was serving in the nursery.
Janice also served in many volunteer positions in the community, one of the ones she loved, but hated at the same time was finding the security people for the Washington County Fair. Janice worked in the Hurricane City offices, she then moved over to Hurricane Elementary as a reading aide. Many of the students loved and still remember her to this day. After Lynn retired from UDOT, they opened their own Dutch Oven catering business. Lynn’s Dutch oven cooking was the best, but Janice’s scones could not be beaten.
Janice made the home a place of safety and comfort and would welcome anyone in need. She especially loved her neighbors and treated them as if they were family. In fact, Janice was known in the neighborhood for her donuts, Christmas rolls and hard tack at Christmas. Over the past year and half, she has been at the Beehive Home in Hurricane, where it was said that she would always have a smile on her face and would let everyone she met feel important.
Janice learned to play the piano at a young age, she played until in later years and her arthritis caught up to her. If she was not inside cooking, scrapbooking or working on the many projects she had going on, she would be outside picking up pecans. In fact, she would still be picking them up today if she could. Her Grandkids also expressed how much they loved her homemade root beer in the summers.
Lynn and Janice had six children. On Sept. 23, 1964, a special spirit was born into their family. He was the fifth child and one that all knew was special. In fact, President Spencer W. Kimball gave him a blessing and he later told Lynn that he knew that he was a special spirit that he was not destined to be long on the earth. Unfortunately, Carl passed away from a brain tumor on April 4, 1969. He was and is still loved by his family; in fact, we are sure he was there to meet his mom after her passing.
Lynn and Janice’s other children are Jolene (Ron) Lemmon, David (Arla) Sanders, Gary (Joyce) Sanders, Joan (Jon) Jackson, Carl Sanders and Janalyn (Eric) Wood. They had 20 grandchildren, 52 great-grandchildren and three great-great-grandchildren (two on the way.) She is preceded in death by her husband of more than 50 years Lynn, her mom and dad, her brothers Wendell and Clair, son Carl, grandsons Gregory Lemmon, Bradley Sanders andand Zachary Harrison.
Funeral services will be Saturday, March 9, 2024, at 11 a.m. in the Red Brick Chapel at 274 S. 100 W., Hurricane, Utah. A viewing will be held the previous night March 8, from 5-7 p.m. at the chapel. Also, from 9:30-10:30 a.m. the day of the service. Interment will be in the Hurricane City Cemetery following the service. The funeral will also be broadcast via YouTube@redbrickchurchhurricaneuta3190.
Janice’s family would like to thank the many loving people who have taken care of her at The Beehive Home in Hurricane. Also, we would like to thank Integrated Senior Care for their loving care of Mom. We would also like to express our love and thanks to those on Pecan Avenue (60 East) for how much they took care of Mom prior to going to Beehive and after for watching and taking care of her home.
Arrangements are under the direction of Spilsbury Mortuary, 110 S Bluff St., St. George, 435-673-2454. Family and friends are invited to click here to sign Janice’s online guest book.