Jack Sanders

(From Clark Funeral Home)

Rev. Jackie Dean Sanders. age 89 of Neosho, went to be with the Lord on April 26, 2023 in Neosho, Missouri. Jack was born March 30, 1934 in Granby, Missouri, one of two sons to Harry E. and Grace (Chandler) Sanders. He graduated from Granby High School and following graduation, he worked in Tulsa, Oklahoma and Wichita, Kansas. 

In 1953, he joined the U.S. Navy and served his country until 1957. Following his honorable discharge, he spent two years at Southwest Baptist College in Bolivar, Missouri where he met the love of his life, Barbara (Emack). 

During his student years at SWBC, he was called to his first church, Mt. Herman Baptist Church in Olean, Missouri. On June 5, 1959 at the First Baptist Church in Cabool, Missouri, Jack married Barbara. Jack served as a bi-vocational minister for more than 50 years, serving as Pastor at First Baptist in Ritchey, Missouri, Belfast Baptist, Calvary Baptist and Fellowship Baptist in Neosho and then at New Salem Baptist Church for twenty-eight years. 

In addition to the ministry, Jack served as Juvenile Officer for Newton/McDonald Counties; Manager of For-All Bible Center in Joplin and office manager at Church Growth International in Neosho. 

In 2000, he ran for political office and was elected Newton County Commissioner and was re-elected in 2004 and 2008, serving three terms. Following his retirement, he and Barbara served as Missionaries in Ukraine, teaching English and sharing the word of God. 

Jack is survived by his wife of 63 years, Barbara; two sons, Kent (Christy) Sanders of Springfield, Missouri and Mark (Michelle) Sanders of Joplin; four grandchildren, Karissa (Grant) Brown, Stephen (Jessica) Sanders, Mollie Sanders and Harry Sanders and six great grandchildren, Abigail, Ann, twins, Ellie and Emi and twins, James and Jude. 

He is preceded in death by his parents and brother, Bill Sanders. Funeral services will be held at 2 pm, Monday, May 1, 2023 at the Clark Funeral Home Chapel of Memories with Pastor Grant Brown, Pastor Gary Bond and R. J. Savage officiating. Interment will follow in the Granby Memorial Cemetery. 

The family will receive friends prior to the service from 1 pm until service time. 

Contributions in memory of Jack may be made to Arc of the Ozarks, New Salem Baptist Church or Interserve USA Missions, c/o Clark Funeral Home, PO Box 66; Neosho, MO 64850.