Lucille Shipley (Sweat) Sanderson

Lucille Shipley (Sweat) Sanderson (89), known to all as Lucy, passed away on February 22, 2024 surrounded in the love of her family and her husband of 66+ years.

Lucy was born in Detroit on November 21, 1934, the only child of William Bailey and Mary Lucille (Shipley) Sweat. She had a sister and brother from her father's first marriage who were both married; her childhood was filled with lots of attention.

Lucy grew up in Detroit; she attended Michigan State University where she received a degree in elementary education. A blind date to a basketball game and record-dance her freshman year turned into a lifetime of love. She and Leon Sanderson married June 29, 1957.

Lucy taught in Grand Rapids, MI for a year before getting married. They moved to Moline, IL for Leon's work at John Deere and Lucy picked up teaching again. After about a year, Deere moved them to Des Moines, IA where they started their family and found a church home at Windsor Presbyterian.

Their first baby, Debby, was with them for 10 months before succumbing to a heart ailment. Daughters Kathy and Mary soon followed, and Lucy's family life was full.

Lucy was the ultimate stay-at-home mom, that didn't entail much staying at home. She made sure her daughters got to all their activities - 4H, piano, voice and art lessons, volunteered extensively at their schools, sewed many of their clothes, and she passed along her love of reading and music.

Lucy always had a smile on her face. She loved travel and getting to know people from other cultures. The family took camping trips every summer to a different part of the US. Later, she and Leon traveled the world - China, Australia, Tahiti, Germany, London, Scotland, Panama, the list goes on. They both traveled with and hosted travelers with the Friendship Force.

As her daughters got older, Lucy went back to education - running Christian Ed programs at the church and substitute teaching with Talented and Gifted programs in the Des Moines schools.

Lucy had always been a talented knitter, but truly found her craft passion in quilting. Many friends and family have sweeter dreams under a beautiful piece of custom art created by Lucy.

She and Leon moved to Dallas in 2021 to be near both daughters and found a new family of friends at Belmont Village of Turtle Creek. She and Leon quickly became regulars at the bridge table. Their love and support for each other was stronger than ever after 71 years together.

Lucy is survived by her husband, Leon F. Sanderson, her daughters Kathy (Keith) Rabuse and Mary (Jon) Diamond, along with grandchildren Kalyn and Megan Rabuse and Nathan and Eric Diamond.

Lucy was preceded in death by her parents, her daughter Deborah Lynn Sanderson, her sister Elizabeth (Deward) Lake, and her brother Robert (Margaret) Sweat.

Services will be held March 5, 2024, 10:30am CST at Belmont Village of Turtle Creek, 3535 N Hall St, Dallas, TX 75219, with a live stream also at Windsor Presbyterian Church, 6301 University Ave, Windsor Heights, IA 50324.

Live stream link: https://www.youtube.com/@CelebrationofLifeLucySanderson

Donations in lieu of flowers to Windsor Presbyterian Church are appreciated.