Eva Jean Sanderson was placed at the feet of Jesus, surrounded by her children and loving family on July 30, 2026 in Blue Springs, Mo. Born on October 6, 1936 in Vardaman, Ms, to Huge Gaston Hamilton and Ruby Leola Hardin, Jean was raised in Mississippi with 10 Brothers and sisters where she came from humble beginnings, but she never lacked for love or drive. Playing basketball in school was something that she loved to do and even though she was 5 foot nothing she was dynamite on the basketball court, fearless some would say. Jean met her loving husband of 67 years when she was very young in school and he knew from the moment he saw her he was going to marry her. They eloped their senior year of high school and started a wonderful life, and journey together. Her entire life was wrapped up into three beautiful categories. God, her family and her faith. You didn’t meet Jean without having the inevitable question being asked to you, “Do you know Jesus?” Plan, simple, straight to the point. That was her in a nut shell. You can’t put into words how to describe her because her vibrant, caring, loving, and devoted personality was unlike any person that I had ever met. Her love for Jesus was known to the entire world. She wanted the world to know the love that she found in Jesus Christ. Her kindness stretched far and wide, and her love ran so deep with her family. Her laughter would fill any room she was in, and touch your heart, I’m sure you can hear that laugh even now. To know her was to know the love of Christ. To be near her was to feel the grace of Jesus. I talk with her was to understand the steadiness of The Lord. Jean really was the best mother and grandma on this planet. I know everyone can say that about their moms and grandma‘s, but really, she was the best. Bringing home six children, their house was always full of love, laughter, and of course, Jesus. If you ever wanted to know where Jean was all you needed to do was go to her kitchen, she was always there. Singing away as she made fudge, rolling out dough for biscuits or getting ALL of the food together for Sunday afternoon lunch for 30+ people. She was relentless with her love for her family and having them around was her number one priority. Through those six children, she had 16 grandchildren and 9 great grandchildren and one on the way. Though we cry tears on this planet, we know beyond a shadow of doubt she is dancing on the streets of Gold, singing at the feet of Jesus and gathering every single reward that was stored up in heaven for her. We celebrate her life, we cry for her death, but we are overjoyed for her eternity. Jean is survived by 4 sisters. Caroline Hensen, Gloria Gillis, Gwen Pace and June Edington. 5 Children Lynne Collums (Dudly), Shane Sanderson, Jason Sanderson, Leslie Menchetti. And countless grandkids and great grandkids. She was proceeded in death by her husband Joe Carl Sanderson, Daughter Lisa Smothers, Granddaughters Jessica Koehler, Janessa Russel. Parents Hugh Gaston And Ruby Hamilton. Siblings: Ruth Cole, Billy Burt Hamilton, Peggy Hodge, Hugh Anderson Hamilton, Skeet Shelba Willis. Great Grandson Ricky Durell Johnson 

Obituary submitted by the family 

Arrangements by Royer Funeral Home in Grain Valley, MO