James Russell Sanders passed away quietly on Monday, March 11, 2024 at Mercy Hospital in Springfield, Missouri.  He was 92 years old.

Russell was born on December 20, 1931 in Crossroads, Missouri to Jesse Marion and Mary Ethel Mathes Sanders.  He had a younger brother Dale, who also preceded him in death.  He attended school in Ava, Missouri and met the love of his life, Inez Lucille Humbyrd in fourth grade. They married on September 17, 1949 after graduating from high school in Ava, and were married for 72 years before Lucille passed away on December 18, 2021. They lived several places in the area, until moving to Ozark, where Russell answered a calling to become a pastor.  He began working for Kraft Foods, and later transferred to Springfield, where they made their permanent home.  Russell worked at Kraft Foods for 35 years, retiring in 1989.  Over the years, Russell preached at several churches, and in Springfield he spent 13 years as the pastor of East Side General Baptist before he went to Second Baptist as the pastoral care minister, where he retired in 2021 .  Russell liked to play the guitar, and he and his family started a small singing group, singing at various churches in the area.  He and Lucille were fans of the Lady Bears and went to many of their games over the years; they also loved going to Branson to see the music shows and never passed up an opportunity to go to Silver Dollar City.

Russell is survived by his three children and their spouses – Sherri and Jeff DeVries, Jerry and Becki Sanders, and Jeanne James; seven grandchildren – Jessica Miller, Amanda Garvey, Jacob Sanders, Tyler James, Abi O’Quinn, Kelsey Tucker, and Madi Lewis; twelve great grandchildren, and one great great granddaughter.

Services will be held on Saturday, March 16 at Greenlawn Funeral Home East, 3540 East Seminole Street in Springfield; visitation will be at 10:00 am, followed by the funeral service at 11:00.  Graveside service will take place immediately following at Rivermonte Memorial Gardens, 4500 South Lone Pine in Springfield.