Leon Lyman Sanders

Leon Lyman Sanders

Leon Lyman Sanders, 77, died peacefully on January 22, 2009 of natural causes at his home in Powell. During his final days, he was surrounded by his wife, seven children, many of his 22 grandchildren, and several great-grandchildren.

Leon was born August 13, 1931 to Elden and Isabelle Lyman Sanders in Basin. He was the second of eight children and was a loyal son and son-in-law.

Leon grew up in Otto, with short stints in San Diego and San Francisco when his father helped with the war efforts. He graduated from Greybull High School in 1949. Leon was an All State tackle on the football team and was awarded a football scholarship from Montana State University. He married Eva Loraine Henry on December 14, 1951 in Billings. In their 57 years of marriage, they built three family homes together and ran Sanders Plumbing and Heating as a partnership. He strongly supported Eva when she opened the Bargain Yard in Powell and the Furniture Connection in Worland.

As a youth, Leon had many jobs and as an adult had three careers. He worked at Marathon Pipeline for 22 years, serving part of his time in Greybull, Nebraska, Illinois, the Gulf of Mexico, and Alaska. After retiring from Marathon, he and his son Butch worked in construction for several years until he and Eva opened the plumbing business in August 1976. After retiring from there, his sons Steve and Calvin bought the business. He had many skills and used them to invent creative solutions to problems at work and at home. Leon was a hard worker, gaining the respect of his co-workers and providing well for his family.

An avid reader, Leon had great interest in World War II and American political history. He also kept current with national and local politics, and enjoyed his service on the Park County Planning and Zoning Commission. He was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and was intrigued with church history and family history. He found a great deal of pleasure from connecting with extended family, especially the Lymans and Hopkins.

Leon was preceded in death by his parents, his brother Grant and sister-in-law Patty, granddaughters Victoria Gomez and Jamie Curry. He is survived by his wife; brothers Richard, Merrill, Elden, and Paul; sisters Dorothy Lytle and Ellen Gotfredson; children Sharon Sanders of Pocatello, Butch (Diana) of Cheyenne, Bonnie Curry of Chicago, Anita (Chris) Pelletier of Powell, Melanie (Ken) Sanders-Smith of Washington, DC, Steve (Sherry) Sanders of Powell, and Calvin (Jodie) of Powell; 20 grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held on Saturday, January 31 at 10:00 at the LDS Church at 525 W. 7th Street in Powell. Visitation will be held at the church one hour prior to the services. In lieu of flowers, the Sanders family has requested that friends honor Leon's memory through donations to the Leon Sanders Welding Scholarship Endowment at Northwest College Foundation, 231 W. 6th Street, Powell, Wyoming 82435.