Marjorie Louise Smith Sanders, age 94, passed away peacefully on Thursday, January 8, 2026. Marjorie was born in Piney Flats, Tennessee, but spent her elementary school years in North Carolina. Upon returning to Piney Flats, she met and fell in love with Bobby Sanders, and they eloped on June 11, 1951.

Bobby enlisted in the Army and fought in the Korean War. Their first child was born while he was deployed and he returned on Christmas Eve when their son, Randy, was almost seven months old.

Bobby reenlisted in 1962 and Bobby and Margie embarked on an adventuresome military life. They were stationed throughout the south, but their favorite assignment was the three years spent in Germany.

After retirement, Bobby and Margie returned to Piney Flats where she was an active volunteer at Rocky Mount Living History Museum. She also took two mission trips to Costa Rica with the United Methodist Church. Soon after Bobby's death in 2014, Marjorie moved to Smyrna, Tennessee to be near her daughter, Lisa.

Marjorie is preceded in death by her parents, John and Charmie Godsey Smith Shaver, and her brother Arthur Smith.

She is survived by her son Randy Sanders of Johnson City, Tennessee, and daughter Lisa Fox and her husband John of Smyrna, Tennessee; grandchildren Justin Fox and his wife Nikita, Kara Martin and her husband Seth, and Moss Sanders and Graham; great-grandchildren, Jack Martin, Axel Fox, Ella Martin, and Millie Fox; sister-in-law, Keitha Cross; nephew Kevin Cross and his wife Alix; and niece Kristen Cassidy and her husband Jeff; niece Frances Cash and many extended family and friends.

The family will have a private ceremony at the Mountain Home National Cemetery in Johnson City, Tennessee on Thursday, January 15, 2025, at 2:00 pm EST. Marjorie will be laid to rest with her beloved husband. It is very fitting that she is buried at a military cemetery as she was an extremely proud Army wife.

An online guestbook for the Sanders family is available at www.woodfinchapel.com.