Rickey Sanders

(From Clark Funeral Home)

Rickey Lee Sanders went to his heavenly home on December 24, 2025, at KU Medical Center in Kansas City, KS, at the age of 52. Rickey was born on May 10, 1973, to Ronnie and Mary (Jones) Sanders in Joplin, Missouri.

Rickey grew up in Joplin, Missouri and the surrounding area. He graduated from Carl Junction High School. His sister, Missy, introduced him to his future bride, Stephanie Ringstaff. He and Stephanie were wed on June 10, 2006, at Ozark Camp and Retreat Center in Joplin, Missouri. They shared 19 years of marriage before his passing. They made a great team. Even when Rickey couldn’t physically do things, like work on a car, he was able to talk Stephanie through it. 

 

Rickey was an active member at Silver Moon Full Gospel Church of Neosho. He led by example for his children. It was important to him that they love God and played an integral role in their salvation. Not only was he a spiritual leader, he was always teaching his children life lessons, like how to cook, repair cars, and hunt.

He loved outdoors and nature, never wanting to be inside. He was a man of many hobbies including: woodworking, construction projects, faithfully read his Bible, gardening his raised beds, and working on cars.

Rickey loved his children dearly and that was evident in his daily life. He began working on fixing up a 1931 Plymouth into a hot rod with Champion, he began a coin collection with Cooper, and Sara was his little princess whom he loved with all his heart.

Rickey was an inspiration to those around him. He was full of determination and humor, which he passed on to his children. They witnessed him building a 5-strand barbed wire fence from his wheelchair.

Rickey is survived by his loving wife, Stephanie; their children Sara, Champion, and Cooper Sanders, all of the home; his mother, Mary Sanders of Neosho, siblings: Candy (Jeff) Taylor of Galena, Kansas, Ronnie (Kristie) Sanders of Carthage, and Tammy (Jose) Munoz of Joplin, Missy Abbott, and partner Bill of Joplin; mother and father-in-law Barbara and Richard Ringstaff of Neosho, sisters and brothers-in law Sheila (Joel) Eastin of Neosho, Rebecca (Levi) Clymer of Stella, Rick (Dawn) Ringstaff of Giddings, Texas, Joe (Carly) Ringstaff of Joplin, and Jon Ringstaff of Neosho, and numerous nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his father, Ronnie Sanders.

Funeral services are scheduled for 10:00 am, January 2, 2026, at Silver Moon Full Gospel Church.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in memory of Rickey, may be mailed to Clark Funeral Home P.O. Box 66 Neosho, Missouri 64850 to help the family with funeral expenses.