Dr. John "Ted" Theodore Sanders

Dr. John Theodore (Ted) Sanders left this world exactly how he would have wanted. He was in the presence of his beloved wife of 63 years, Beverly. He had just sat down for a breakfast including scrambled eggs with hatch chiles (a New Mexico staple) in his favorite place on earth, Angel Fire, New Mexico. He passed after a year filled with memorable moments with his family and friends.

Having two homes - one in the beautiful Rocky Mountains for the summer, and one in the warmer climate of Frisco, Texas - stands in stark contrast to his humble beginnings in Littlefield, Texas. Born the son of John Duff (Jay) and Phyllis Sanders, Ted learned early the importance of hard work, the value of a dollar, and to never trust a younger brother who brings you a bowl of mayonnaise and tells you it is ice cream.

Raised predominately in Friona, Texas, Ted, always a good student, was accepted into college at Wayland Baptist University in Plainview, Texas. He would be the first in his family to attend college and was able to do so thanks to a basketball scholarship. It was at a college hayride that he met Beverly McSwain. Their love so apparent, they chose to marry during their final year of college.

After graduating, Ted and Beverly moved to Mountain Home, Idaho, where they both accepted teaching positions. Always demonstrating a love of learning, within his lifetime he earned his bachelors degree in mathematics from Wayland Baptist University, his masters degree in mathematics from Washington State University in Pullman, and his doctorate from the University of Nevada, Reno. He also holds honorary doctorates from several universities.

Classroom teaching led to a distinguished career that demonstrated a legacy of service to public education and to the betterment of kids and their families, including serving as a senior leader in the New Mexico Department of Education, and as state education chief in three states - Nevada, Illinois, and Ohio. He served as U.S. deputy secretary of education, and acting secretary, under President George H.W. Bush, president of the Southern Illinois University system, and president of the Education Commission of the States, among numerous educational advisory boards, university boards of trustees, corporate boards, and consulting firms.

He is survived by his wife, Beverly, of Frisco, TX; children: Audrey Sanders Wright, Texarkana AR; John (Drew) Andrew Sanders (Angie), Overland Park, KS; April Sanders Helm (Matthew), Deforest, WI; and Dr. Anthony (Tony) Sanders, Elgin, IL. He is also survived by two brothers, Thomas (Joan) and David (Janis) (we’ll let you guess which one fed him mayo). Grandchildren (who affectionately called him “Pop”) include R. Geoffrey Wright, Arkansas City, AR; Dr. Garrett Wright (Dr. Caroline Newhall), Elyria, OH; Dr. Janna Sanders Hatvany (Dr. Thomas Hatvany), Harrisburg, PA; Linley Sanders (Stephen Dowd, fiancé), Washington DC; Kyleakin Helm-Kwasny (Kyle Kwasny), Iowa City, IA; John (Jack) Sanders, Elgin, IL; Alexandria (Lexie) Sanders, Elgin, IL; and Cambrian Blue-Helm (Isaac Blue-Helm), Normal, IL. He also was the proud great grandfather to Henry and Hudson Wright of Arkansas City, AR.

Services will be held Saturday, September 21 at 2:00 pm, at Stonebriar Funeral Home located at 10375 Preston Road, Frisco, TX, 75033.

In lieu of flowers, in honor of family members affected, donations may be made to the ALS Association (888-949-2577), PO Box 37022, Boone, IA, 50037-0022, or to the American Diabetes Association (800-342-2383), PO Box 7023, Merrifield, VA, 22116-7023.