Mr. Lee Ollie Sanders

October 18, 1949 - January 2, 2022

SANDERS, Mr. Lee Ollie - Age 72, passed away Sunday, January 2, 2022 at the Grand Rapids Nursing Home for Veterans, Grand Rapids, MI. Family hour 10:30 AM Tuesday, January 11, 2022 from the Chapel of Lawrence E. Moon Funeral Home, 906 W. Flint Park Blvd., with funeral service commencing at 11:00 AM. Rev. Patrick Sanders II, officiating. Interment Great Lakes National Cemetery, G-4200 Belford Rd., Holly, MI. Friends and pallbearers will assemble at the chapel 10:30 AM Tuesday. Mr. Sanders will lie in state in the Chapel of Lawrence E. Moon Funeral Home and may be viewed 12:00 PM - 6:00 PM Monday.Mr. Lee Ollie Sanders was born on October 18, 1949 in West Memphis, AR, the son of Joe Davis Sanders and Ruthie Mae Sanders. At an early age, Lee moved to Chicago, Illinois with his parents and siblings. Lee was a member of First Bethel Missionary Baptist Church, where he held the position of Deacon and helped led the devotion services. Lee was a handsome, loving and strong young man. After High School, he decided to join the Marine Corps in 1969. He served in the United States Marine Corps where he fought in the Vietnam War. He was Honorably Discharged and received a Purple Heart Medal, Combat Action Ribbon, National Defense Service Medal, Raffle Marksman Badge, Vietnam Service Medal with 1 Star and a Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal with Device for his service. After coming home from the Marine Corps, he married Ann Shelton and later moved to Flint, MI. One of Lee’s famous sayings were, “Keep It Clean”. Lee loved to be the grill master at all the family functions. In fact, his mother, the late Ruthie Mae Chatman, would tell everyone, “Let Lee cook”. He was the third oldest of eleven children, but he was her baby. Lee loved to tell jokes, play cards and dominos. He kept everyone laughing at his jokes. He had a nickname for all his family members and his nickname was, “Foots”. Lee loved his family. After living many years in Flint, MI, he later became a resident in Grand Rapids, MI where he lived at the Grand Rapids Home for Veterans due to his medical condition. Mr. Lee Ollie Sanders leaves to cherish his memory: 1 daughter, Tracey Lee Sanders of Chicago, IL; 7 sisters, Minnie (Robert) Harris of Meridian Ville, AL, Carolyn Sanders of Chicago, IL, Shirley (Roy) Hayes of Bloomington, IL, Tawanda (Creon) Mattison of Grand Blanc, MI, Jacquelyn Wintersmith, Kathleen (Horace) Sturdivant and Olivia Shelton; 2 brothers, James Chatman and Larry Chatman, all of Flint, MI. Mr. Lee Ollie Sanders was preceded in death by his wife, Ann Sanders; parents, Joe Davis Sanders and Ruthie Mae Chatman; stepfather, Matthew Chatman; and brother, Joe Willie Sanders.