James Saunders Obituary

Graveside inurnment services for longtime Cortez resident, James Robert Saunders will be held at 2 p.m. Monday, Oct. 6, 2014, at Cortez Cemetery.

James Robert Saunders was born Dec. 23, 1949, in Bronte, Texas, to Margarett (Hanna) and J.W. "Pete" Saunders. He passed away Monday, Sept. 29, 2014, at his Cortez residence at the age of 64.

Robert lived in Blackwell, Texas, until the age of 8, when his family moved to Cortez so that his dad could work in the oil fields. Robert attended school in Cortez and graduated from MCHS in 1968. He enlisted in the United States Army where he served the military and his country in Korea. When Robert returned to Cortez, he worked as a carpenter, which was his lifelong passion.

Robert was preceded in death by his father, J.W. "Pete" Saunders; his mother, Margarett (Hanna) Saunders; and by his brother, John Wilber Saunders Jr.

Robert is survived by his wife, Gail; his step-daughters, Caity Rowell of Cortez and Jenni Rowell of Arvada, Colo.; his brother, Ted (Jan) Saunders of Cortez; his sisters, Nancy (Charley) Whitehorn of Cortez, and Bonnie (Mancel) Skelton of Amarillo, Texas; and by numerous nieces and nephews who will miss him deeply.

Services are under the direction of Ertel Funeral Home. For further information or to send condolences, log on to www.ertelfuneralhome.com and click on the obituary section.