Andrew Newton Sanders, 92, of Cross Plains, passed away on Monday, February 24, 2025, surrounded by his family.
Celebration of Life Services will be at 2:00 PM on Saturday, March 1, 2025, at the First Baptist Church with Pastor Wendell Elms, pastor of New Life Tabernacle, officiating. The burial will follow at Cross Plain Memorial Park under the direction of Higginbotham Funeral Home. The family will have a time of visitation at 1:00 PM prior to the service at the First Baptist Church on Saturday.
Andy was born on April 27, 1932, in Shamrock, TX on the side of the road in a tent to Sally Edna Sanders and Andrew Jackson Sanders. He was raised with 11 brothers and sisters in Weinert, TX. He graduated from Weinert High School in 1951. He married Marlene Chambers August 14,1954, in Hobbs, NM.
In 1972, Andy and Marlene moved their 5 rambunctious girls to Cross Plains, TX and settled on their beautiful ranch. Andy built his business, Cross Plains Custom Tile, into a thriving tile company. He took pride in his work and loved the men that worked for him. Andy was a Lifetime Member of the Cross Plains FFA program where he loved watching not only students of the community show, but also his grandchildren. On Wednesdays you could catch him at the Coleman Livestock Auction either buying and/or selling cattle or sharing his Words of Wisdom. He loved attending church with his family. His Pastor Wendell and Sis. Linda Elms meant the world to him, and he loved them deeply. He was known as “Papa” to his grandchildren and “Papa Newt” to his great grandchildren. It was a treat for him to give them what he called “ice cream” money. He loved buying ice cream for any child that came in Dairy Queen (his personal favorite was the Strawberry Mini Blizzard). Andy had a tough cowboy exterior but had a heart of Gold.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Sally Edna Sanders and father Andrew Jackson; 6 sisters and 3 brothers.
Andy is survived by his wife, Marlene Sanders of Cross Plains; children, Netha Carouth and husband Rickey of Cross Plains, Andra Jackson of Cross Plains, Renault Herrington and husband Mark of Senioa, Georgia, Lesa Lambright and husband Tommy of Austin, TX, Tina Thomas and husband Rickey of Cypress, TX; siblings, sister, Marie Kirkland and husband B.D. of Haskell, TX, brother Rocky Sanders, Abilene, TX; 10 grandchildren and 24 great grandchildren.
In Lieu of flowers donations may be made to Cross Plains Volunteer Fire Department and/or New Life Tabernacle of Cisco through the Texas Heritage Bank or call Netha Carouth 325-660-3223 or Andra Jackson 325-370-6781 for more information.
Family and friends may sign the guest register book and/or send condolences at https://www.higginbothamfuneralhomecrossplains.com/
Higginbotham Funeral Home of Cross Plains, 309 N E 4th Street. 254-725-6153 is in charge of arrangements.