Cora Sanders

Cora “Jane” Turner Sanders passed peacefully on February 26, 2022. Born in 1945 in Delta, Utah to Reed and Betty Turner, Jane was the second of four children. Her childhood was spent playing among the greasewoods (only occasionally burning them down), riding horses, and playing various sports in Delta. Jane graduated from Delta High School before attending Brigham Young University where she earned a bachelor’s degree in elementary education. Following graduation, Jane applied her sense of adventure to travel across Europe and Mexico, experiences she cherished and discussed for the rest of her life.

Soon after completing her degree from BYU, Jane started her career as a teacher at Crescent Elementary School in Sandy, Utah. However, in 1972, her sister set her up on a blind date with an US Air Force Officer named Barry Sanders, and her plans changed. After a short courtship, Jane married Barry in the LDS temple in Manti, UT and joined him at his in Wichita, Kansas where he as stationed and where their first son, David, was born. Barry was soon moved to the Air Force base in Minot, North Dakota where their daughter, Amy, joined the family. Jane valued these experiences and cherished the friendships she built with the military families during these years. After Barry’s medical discharge from the Air Force, they moved their growing family back to Delta, UT where they completed their hat trick of children with the birth of Scott. The family moved to Orem, UT soon thereafter where they raised their family and lived the remainder of their lives.

In 1987, Jane returned to her beloved teaching profession as a second-grade teacher at Geneva Elementary School in Orem, Utah. Jane was a master teacher and for decades she blessed hundreds of students with her laughter, energy, and love for children and learning. Jane relished the challenge and joy of finding just the right way to help a child develop the skill and love of reading. Jane loved her students and had a ready hug and encouraging words for every child that entered her classroom, especially those she knew needed her most. In 1998 she was awarded Alpine School District’s Accent on Excellence Award for “outstanding educators who are exemplary role models and heroes for their students.” For the rest of her life, she would proudly introduce herself as a second-grade teacher. Jane begrudgingly retired from teaching when she contracted thyroid cancer due in part to being a “downwinder” from nuclear testing in the Utah deserts in the mid-20th century.

Jane was a loving and supportive mother and grandma. For decades her calendar was full of concerts, dance recitals, plays, sporting events, and school programs for her children and grandchildren. In her spare time, Jane loved gardening (tomatoes and cucumbers were her specialty), art (especially Van Gogh), sports (Go Cougs!), travel, music, and especially books - she could almost always be found reading a good book with a happy ending.

Jane joins her husband Barry, parents Reed and Betty, and brother Lynn in the next life, and she is survived by her children David, Amy, and Scott; daughters-in-law Ashley (David) and Jennie (Scott); grandchildren Olivia (David), Albany and Tristan (Amy), Conrad, Theodore, and Emerson (Scott); and her sisters Nadine and Sue.

Memorial services will be held on March 12th at 11:00 am in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints chapel located at 500 South 600 West, Orem UT 84085. We are remembering Jane with contributions to the Alpine School District Foundation ( link ) in her name. These donations will purchase books for children in local schools and ensure her life dedication to education can continue.

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