Obituary of Chris David Sanders

Chris David Sanders, 65, “graduated” to the throne room of our Savior on October 27, 2020 in his daughter and son-in-law’s home in Spanaway, WA. He was born in Tacoma, WA on April 11, 1955 to Duane and Audrey (Hope) Sanders. Always a “Taco-mite”, he graduated from Mt. Tahoma High School in 1973. He attended Pacific Lutheran University from 1973 – 1977, where he earned a Bachelors in Business Administration. He worked for his father at Sanders Cabinets for a few years before providentially being offered a computer programming position back at his alma mater. Lightyears of technological change and 10 new positions later, this month marked his 40^th year of employment at PLU. He is survived by his brother, Mark (Lillian) and sister, Lea and his three children, Sarah (Shane), David, and Andrew. He is preceded in death by his parents, Duane and Audrey.

A jack of all trades and master of some, there weren’t many things that Chris couldn’t do. When he was a young adult, he would lead teams of volunteers at People’s Church to host large banquets for the young adult ministry. In college, he and his best friend, Max, would often go hiking at Mt. Rainier, taking pictures along the way. Chris would develop the photos himself in his own dark room. Having grown up with a carpenter father, he could troubleshoot just about any plumbing, electrical, or structural issue. During his children’s younger years, he built several items of fine furniture for the family; including, dressers, bookshelves, a Scandinavian style expanding dining room table, and a buffet. He and his father also built the family home – to commercial standards, no less! On the family property, he maintained a large garden and fruit trees that produced all kinds of fruits and vegetables for many months of the year.

Chris also loved to cook. This became probably his most famous trait with friends and family. Sometimes compared to Remy in the Pixar movie Ratatouille, Chris could taste flavors you didn’t even know were there. He would try a dish at a restaurant and then go through several iterations at home, getting the flavor just right. Some of his kids’ favorite meals growing up were chicken sub gum, fresh strawberry crepes, and “egg McDaddies.” Chris always preferred Chinese food; however, his desserts are what most impressed his guests. His recipes for cinnamon rolls, challah, and New York cheesecake will be treasured for years to come.

The center of Chris’s life revolved around community. In all of his doings, his heart was to serve. As condolences have poured in, a recurring theme is that he was always willing to do whatever it took to do what was best for the groups or people in question. He was selfless and self-sacrificing, almost to a fault. Throughout his kids’ childhoods, Chris’ home became the hang-out place for all their friends. He made loads of popcorn and chicken nuggets and was gracious when nighttime conversations woke him up at 2am. He even opened his home to two of his eldest son’s friends, when they had nowhere else to go. In recent years, he spent his time helping friends with all kinds of projects; building things, researching health and wellness, working in a restaurant, and helping a friend’s daughters with their weekly homework. Chris lived for community and he leaves behind a legacy of warmth, kindness, and cheerfulness that will never be forgotten.