Numey (Sandy) Saunders

MSG Numey R.O. Saunders ,Army Retired, age 76, of Hogansville, Georgia, was taken with the angels and is finally at peace, after a long battle with cancer and congestive heart failure. He is survived by his patient and loving wife, Arlene Saunders, whom he met and fell madly in love with in 1971, and married a short time later, on February 26, 1972. He is also survived by his daughter and son-in-law, Rhonda Saunders Strickland and Charles Glen ("Chuck") Strickland, and grandsons, Charles "Glen" Strickland, II, (and fiancé, Brooke Richards) and Patrick Dean Strickland, and great-grandson, Charles Glen "Charlie" Strickland, III, Hogansville, GA; son and daughter-in-law, Steven James Saunders and Elizabeth "Leigh" Landers Saunders, and grandchildren, Noah Isaac Saunders, Kayleigh Grace Saunders, Sean Hayden Saunders, and Brayden Odell Saunders, of Snellville, GA; and daughter and son-in-law, Christine Saunders Stillwell and Timothy "Shane" Stillwell, and granddaughters, Alyssa Blake Stillwell and Erin Madison Stillwell, of Hogansville, GA. He is also survived by his sisters, Alice Matthis Saunders, Clinton, NC, and Susie Saunders-Trejo, Roanoke, VA, and his brothers, James Saunders (and Carol) and Jerry Saunders (and Bonnie) all of Roanoke, VA, Roby Saunders of Atlanta, and numerous nephews, nieces, and cousins, whom he dearly loved. Sandy was preceded in death by his parents, Lloyd Reid Saunders and Helen Francis Trail Saunders, his sister, Lynda Saunders, and his brother, Jack Saunders, all originally of NC. Sandy retired from the United States Army in 1991, where he proudly served his country for 28 years. This included three (3) tours in Vietnam and several overseas tours. He received a Bronze Star and three (3) Purple Hearts, and many other honors and awards. Following his military retirement, he also worked for Southern States Auto Auction, Palmetto, GA, for ten (10) years, followed by ten (10) years at Complete Truck Bodies, Gay, GA. Sandy loved every job he ever had and was proud of his commitment and service to the U.S. Army and subsequent employers. Sandy enjoyed many things, the most important of which was providing for his family, and spending quality time with friends and family, for whom he cared deeply. In all things that he enjoyed, there HAD to be music. He loved country music, but his taste was not limited to that genre! He was an artist and enjoyed painting tractors, statues, picture frames, or just about anything that could be painted! He loved working in his yard and growing flowers, plants, fruits, and vegetables in his various gardens, and sharing what he had grown with loved ones. As much as he loved these things, he also loved "the races," going to them, watching them on TV, and listening to them on the radio .. NASCAR, small-town dirt-track, or his brothers' drag races! He also enjoyed a cold Pabst Blue Ribbon beer with anyone that would spend a little time with him, and he could talk about Ford trucks and cars for as long as anyone would listen!! He despised negative talk from anyone, especially if someone was talking bad about people he cared about or his country -- or the right to protect it: "This United States of America.. living here is a privilege. Living anywhere is a choice; if you don't like THIS country, then leave! And if you don't like guns, don't get one; but don't tell me I can't own one and protect MY family!" He did love his family, his country, funny jokes, and the man could eat more food at one meal than most people can eat in a day! Tremendous and heartfelt thanks to the exceptional nurses (his "girls") and doctors of Piedmont Oncology (Newnan & Fayetteville, GA), who gave much more than medical care and treatment, but also provided a peaceful and compassionate environment; they showed him love and concern, and they became his friends. Thanks also to the nurses and volunteers of West Georgia Hospice in LaGrange, GA. The memorial service was conducted on Sunday, March 18, at 3:00 p.m., in the Chapel of Claude A. McKibben and Sons Funeral Home, officiated by Sandy's nephew, Don Matthis, of Clinton, NC. Memorial donations can be made to West Georgia Hospice of LaGrange in his name, or to your favorite "watering hole" where you are instructed to "have a few," toast his life, a life well-lived, and tell a few stories of Sandy.. and LAUGH. While he fought as hard as he could, as long as he could, he was happy and at peace, and will see us again one day, when we celebrate our own homegoing. Claude A. McKibben and Sons Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.