Mary Gale Sanders passed away on October 19, 2026, after a short illness.
She was born in Franklin County, Ohio on January 10, 1934.
She attended the Grant Hospital Nursing program in Columbus, Ohio becoming a registered nurse. She had a long career in nursing with the Veterans Administration Hospitals in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, Murfreesboro, Tennessee, Lexington, Kentucky, and Birmingham, Alabama. Gale was active in Vestavia Hills Methodist Church in Vestavia Hills, Alabama, and First United Methodist Church in Hendersonville, North Carolina. After she retired, she continued to volunteer her nursing skills at the VA hospital in Birmingham, Alabama in various programs helping veterans to locate outpatient assistance and hospice care.
She enjoyed family gatherings, singing, dancing, card games, needlework and watching Alabama Crimson Tide football games. In Birmingham, she participated in Celebration Singers, and in Hendersonville with Ballroom on Broadway. Upon her husband ‘s passing in 2020 she relocated to Hendersonville, NC to be closer to her son.
She was preceded in death by her husband, James M. Sanders, her sister, Carole Rings and brothers Carl Smith Jr., James Smith, and Mel Smith. She is survived by her son, Marlin R. Sanders and his wife Kim of Flat Rock, North Carolina, two grandchildren, Christopher Sanders and his wife Amanda of Marysville, Washington, Ashley Sutor and her husband Michael of Bexley, Ohio, and four great grandchildren.
A memorial service will be held on Saturday, November 07, 2026 at the Hendersonville United Methodist Church Chapel at 3:00 in the afternoon.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, Alabama or to Carolina Village, Hendersonville, North Carolina.
Condolences may be sent to the Sanders family at www.jacksonfuneralservice.com or C/O Jackson Funeral Service 1101 Greenville Highway, Hendersonville, NC 28792. Please include the name of the deceased on the condolence.