Russell Lee Sanders, Jr.

Russell Lee Sanders, Jr., 53, of San Angelo went to be with the Lord on Friday, June 1, 2018 in Hobbs, New Mexico. Russell was born to Russell Lee Sr. and Rachel Reaux Sanders on June 13, 1964 in Morgan City, LA. He grew up in Gonzales and graduated from Gonzales High School. After high school, he went to work in the petroleum industry starting out as a rough neck and working his way up to drilling consultant. Over a span of 30 years, he worked for numerous oil companies and traveled various places in the Gulf of Mexico and off the coast of Africa during his career. When the oil business was slow, Russell became a truck driver, eventually developing his own company “Cool Ice Express” trucking company. He enjoyed trucking for many years, eventually selling his business as his demands from the oil field increased. Aside from being a very hard-working man in his life, he was a devoted husband, father and grandfather who adored his family. In his spare time, he loved to pull pranks on his family and friends and joke around and tell stories about the oil field. He was also very adventurous and loved to be spontaneous and go do things on a whim. Russell loved starting new projects and was a “numbers” guy, always running the numbers in his head for these new projects. Russell didn’t always complete his projects, because of work, but he always knew his family had his back on them. Russell’s sense of adventure, strength, love, laughter and charisma will remain in our hearts forever and we will dearly miss him! He was preceded in death by his father, his daughter, Cassie L. Sanders and three brothers, Bruce Wayne Sanders, Russell Louis Sanders, and Douglas Ray Sanders. Russell is survived by his wife, Doris Sanders, of San Angelo; his sons, Derek Sanders and his wife Angela, and Dustan Sanders, all of San Angelo; his mother, Rachel Sanders, of San Antonio; his Step children, Mary Jane Caldwell, of San Antonio, Dallas James Caldwell, of Dexter, MO and Timothy Owen Barnes, Jr. and his wife Miranda, of Bernie, Mo; his granddaughter, Elaine Sanders, of San Angelo, and one grandson on the way, Samuel Ray Sanders; 7 Step- Grandchildren; his Sister, Rebecca Sanders-Alarcon and her husband Leonardo, Jr., of San Antonio; and numerous nieces and nephews and other family members. The family will receive friends from 12:30 PM. – 2:00 P.M., Saturday, June 9, 2018 followed by a funeral service at 2:00 PM at Harper Funeral Home Chapel with Greg Smith officiating. There will be a reception at Spring Hill Suites, 2544 Southwest Blvd, San Angelo, TX 76901, immediately following the service.