Cecil Wayne Sanders, 85, passed away Tuesday, January 4, 2022 in a Waco hospital. Funeral services will be 10 a.m. Friday, January 7 at First Baptist Church in Dawson with Rev. Wilson Marsh officiating. Interment will follow in Spring Hill Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 6-8 p.m. Thursday, January 6 at Wade Funeral Home in Hubbard.

Cecil was born February 27, 1936 in Jewett to Cecil Oscar and Ruby Ida (Hall) Sanders. He was raised in the Jewett area and graduated from Jewett High School in 1954 before attending Draughns Business College in Dallas and going to work for International Harvester. Cecil met Billie Matthews at East Dallas Baptist Church in Dallas and they were married July 14, 1956 at Billie's home church, First Baptist Church of Dawson. He retired from International Harvester (after 37 years) in 1991 after living in Dallas, Mesquite, Dallas, Chicago and DeSoto. They returned to Billie's home in 1991 to live in Spring Hill on a part of the original George Washington Hill grant which had remained in her family since the early 1840's.

Cecil remained involved in the First Baptist Church of Dawson, going to Dawson ISD athletic events and the Dawson Lions Club. He served as treasurer for both the Dawson Ex-Students Association and the Spring Hill Cemetery Association and wrote the Dawson News for the Hubbard City News from 2004 until it ceased publication.

He was preceded in death by his parents and daughter-in-law, Brenda Sharp Sanders.

Survivors include his wife of over 65 years, Billie Matthews Sanders of Dawson; two sons, Darrell Sanders and wife, Linda of Arlington and Ron Sanders and wife, Patti of Dawson; four grandchildren, Audrey Steele and husband, Casey of Waxahachie, Shaun Sanders and wife, Megan of Rocket, Kate Sanders of Dallas and Sarah-Jane Menefee and husband, Matt of Waco; six great-grandchildren, Evelyn Marie Menefee (Evie), Norah Menefee, Maggie Menefee, Rhett Sanders, Patrick Steele and Katie Steele; brother, Ken Sanders of North Carolina; sister, Etta Smith and husband, Don of Denton and several nieces and nephews and other extended family members

Pallbearers will be Darrell Sanders, Ron Sanders, Shaun Sanders, Casey Steele, Matt Menefee and Audrey Steele.

In lieu of flowers, please make contributions to Spring Hill Cemetery Association, P.O. Box 94, Dawson, Texas 76639 or the Dawson Ex-Students Association, P.O. Box 35, Dawson, Texas 76639.

Please sign the guestbook for Cecil at www.wadefuneralhome.net.