Lynn Sanders

Lynn M. Sanders, our beloved father, grandfather, great-grandfather and friend passed away August 6, 2015 of natural causes. Lynn was born March 22, 1934 along with his twin sister Lyla to Myron Hugh Sanders and Elaine Richards Sanders in Twin Groves, Idaho. Lynn met his wife, Shirley Mae Payne, at BYU and they were married July 19, 1956 in the Idaho Falls Temple. Lynn and Shirley were blessed with three sons and two daughters: Kevin Sanders, Sheryl (Clark) Merkley, Michelle (Robin) Mellor, Kerry (Karen) Sanders and Kris (Christy) Sanders. Lynn served a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the Western Canadian Mission. He attended BYU and earned his degree in accounting. After graduation, Lynn and Shirley moved to Idaho Falls where they lived for 13 years. Lynn worked for the Internal Revenue Service and served the community with the Jaycees. The family moved to Boise where Lynn continued his career while raising his family with Shirley. After retirement, Lynn and Shirley moved to Orem in 1991. Lynn was an active member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and served in many callings, with many years as a financial clerk. Lynn had a deep and abiding love for the Savior. Lynn loved being in the mountains, and loved fishing in the lakes and streams. He was an excellent woodcarver and made many fish and birds that he gave away as gifts. His family and friends will remember him as a loving, kind and humble person. Lynn is survived by his wife, Shirley, their 5 children, 17 grandchildren and 9 great-grandchildren, his sisters Lyla (Verle) Kotter and Karon (Neil) Curtis and mother-in-law, Beatrice Payne. Lynn was preceded in death by his parents, Myron and Elaine Sanders and father-in-law, Arden Payne. Funeral services will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, August 15 at the LDS Church at 135 East 2000 South in Orem. Visitation will be held the same day at the church from 11:00 a.m. - 12:40 p.m. Interment will be at Springville Evergreen Cemetery. In Lynn Sanders' own words: "I took my first breath of life on March 22, 1934 in Twin Groves, Idaho. I preceded my twin sister by one half hour. My twin sister, Lyla, and I were born two months premature. Both of us weighed in at 2 and � quarter pounds. My father Myron Hugh Sanders was 18 and my mother Elaine Richards Sanders was 25. Both of my parents were strong members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I was born under the covenant. At the age of 6 weeks, I became seriously ill with pneumonia. Only by the grace of God, the power of the priesthood and the nursing ability of my Aunt Bessie Hendricks, was I able to recover. My life was spared." Lynn's early years were spent in Sugar City, Idaho where his father owned a small grocery store with gas pumps in front of their house. His father would catch and sell minnows to fishermen. Lynn would help his dad get the minnows from traps in the Snake River. When Lynn was 6 years old, his youngest sister, Karon, was born. When he was 8 years old, the family moved to Bellingham, Washington where Lynn's father worked in the military shipyards. This was during World War II. When Lynn was 9 years old, his family returned to Idaho. He spent some of his elementary school years and junior high years in Idaho Falls. He made good friends. He stayed active in church activities and scouts. At the age of 14, his family moved to Sugar City, Idaho. His parents went into the root beer drive-in business. Lynn attended Sugar Salem High School. There Lynn also made good long-lasting friendships and he became involved in sports, mainly football. Much to his dismay, right before his senior year of high school, Lynn moved yet again with his family to St. Anthony, Idaho. He attended and graduated from South Fremont High School. He played football and was the senior class president. He made wonderful friends and was quite popular. After high school, Lynn worked hard building a road for the Palisades Dam. Lynn's friendship with Thayne Miskin was pivotal in his decision to attend Brigham Young University and major in accounting. There he met Shirley Mae Payne, his sweetheart and future eternal companion. They fell very much in love and became engaged before Lynn went on a mission for the LDS Church. Lynn received his mission call to the Western Canadian Mission and started his service on June 26, 1954. While on his mission, he was called to serve in the mission headquarters as a clerk. This was a great time for him. He also served as a district president and was responsible for 20 missionaries. After Lynn's mission, he didn't waste any time and married Shirley on July 19, 1956 in the Idaho Falls Temple. While finishing his education at BYU, Lynn and Shirley had their 1st child, Kevin on September 3, 1957. Lynn graduated with his degree in accounting in 1958. He accepted a job working for a CPA and moved to Idaho Falls. On August 18, 1959, the night of the Hebken Lake earthquake in Montana, their 2nd child, Sheryl, was born. After working at his first job in Idaho Falls, Lynn decided to put a shingle out and open his own tax accounting business. At the same time, he worked part time as a city clerk. Michelle, Lynn and Shirley's 3rd child, was born on August 16, 1961. In October of 1961, Lynn was ecstatic when he secured a job working for the federal government in the Internal Revenue Service. Lynn spent 10 years working in Idaho Falls with the Internal Revenue Service. He was also involved with community service working with the local Jaycees club. While in Idaho Falls, Kerry their 4th child, joined the family on July 30, 1963. In 1964, Lynn and Shirley took on the task of building their own custom home on Fieldstream Lane in Idaho Falls with the help and assistance of long-time friends Quinten and Joyce Elder. With plenty of room in this new house, then came Kris, the 5th child, to the family on July 25, 1968. Summers in eastern Idaho consisted of camping and fishing trips along with house projects and gardening. Winters were filled with holiday gatherings, shoveling snow and skiing at Kelly Canyon Grove Ski Resort with the kids. In January 1971, Lynn moved the family to Boise, Idaho where he had accepted a promotion with the Internal Revenue Service. He received many promotions and commendations over the years and audited some of the largest businesses in the State of Idaho. Lynn and Shirley planted roots, bought a nice family home on Goddard Lane and spent the next 20 years in Boise. Many family and personal memories were made there. Lynn would go often up to Bogus Basin with the kids to ski on the slopes. He also explored the lakes and streams in the fishing season. Lynn and Shirley's friends, Les and Alice Bills, also made the move from Idaho Falls to Boise. Les and Lynn made great fishing partners and enjoyed time out on the streams. In 1976, Lynn and Shirley opened up Sanders Sweetheart Manor on McMillan Road in Boise, a wedding reception center and dress shop. Les was there helping Lynn and Shirley paint the new business building and home. Lynn continued to work for the IRS and also came home to do the books for the new business and the many other things that needed to be done. This was a very busy time for the family. All of the kids graduated from high school in Boise, went off to school and missions from Boise and made a lot of great friends. After retiring from the Internal Revenue Service and turning over the family business, Lynn moved with Shirley to Orem in 1991 and bought the home where they have lived since. They have made many new friends, enjoyed many family activities and continued to serve in the church and the community. Throughout his life, the love of fishing remained. Lynn would find great joy in reeling in a fish, or two, or three. He spent many a fishing trip with his sons and especially loved talking about his Alaskan excursions. He had a great talent for tying is own flies for fly fishing. He loved the mountains, the lakes and the streams. To the end of his life, he was talking about how he was going to get in the boat for a fishing trip, even demonstrating it to Sheryl on the edge of his bed a few weeks ago. He was always planning the next fishing adventure. Lynn was also a talented woodcarver. He would take a piece of wood and make beautiful carved fish and birds. Most of his carvings, he gave away to family and friends. Lynn and Shirley traveled the world in their retirement years. They have been to Greece, Panama, Ireland and Europe several times. They visited all of the United States including Hawaii and Alaska several times. The last big trip Lynn took was to the Iberian coast with Shirley and his daughters Sheryl and Michelle. On this trip, Lynn the happiest when he was able to sit down while in Brugge, Belgium and eat a delicious Belgian waffle while he was waiting for the rest of the group to finish seeing the sights. Lynn loved God and appreciated the beautiful world that surrounded him. He served faithfully as a priesthood holder and magnified his callings in the Church. He spent many years serving as a clerk with the bishopric. He did his home teaching until it became too difficult and attended Church throughout his life. He lived an honest and humble life and taught his children, grandchildren and others through his example. Lynn loved his wife, Shirley. He supported Shirley in the many aspirations and dreams that she wanted to pursue. For example, he would stop at the side of the mountain road and strap a piece of driftwood to the back of the car for his sweetheart. He always made room for his in-laws in family activities and road trips. He included Shirley's parents in many things. His mother-in-law, Beatrice Payne, who is with us today at the age of 106, shared in many experiences. On August 6, 2015 Lynn returned to his heavenly home where he was wrapped in the arms of his parents and other family members. Looking back, Lynn could definitely say he lived a full life. He faced the challenges of growing old and did the best he could. His faith in God never wavered and his love of family was ever strong. Nothing brought more joy than spending time with his children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. He was so looking forward to being with family at the Sanders Family Reunion a few weeks ago. His family were all able to say their goodbyes. Shirley, his children, many of his grandchildren, his sisters and their husbands along with a few of his nieces and one of his nephews were able to be with him in his final days. He is now having a glorious family reunion with his parents, cousins and others who have passed on before. What a joyous reunion that is. Lynn was a kind, loving and gentle man. We have been truly blessed to have had him in our lives and we are comforted with the knowledge that families are eternal. Until we meet again, we love you Lynn!

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