Thomas Erland Sanders passed away February 13th at home with loved ones by his side. Graveside Rites with Military Honors is planned for 11 a.m., Friday, February 20th, 2009 at Willamette National Cemetery of Portland, Oregon. Thomas was born December 12th, 1946 at Kingman, Arizona to Louise Joseph Sanders Doran and Thomas Erland Sanders, Sr. He was 62 years of age at the time of his death. He served our country in the United States Navy enlisting in 1963 and honorably discharged in 1967. After the service he returned to Portland and was employed at Techtronics and Hokey’s while he attended Portland Community College. He received an Applied Science Degree in Criminal Justice and then became a Deputy Sheriff for Washington County. Thomas enjoyed crossword puzzles as well as sharing his time volunteering at the Veterans Home in The Dalles. Thomas had great compassion for the veterans and enjoyed listening to their stories and experiences. He enjoyed his computer especially solitaire and researching different countries and there cultures. Thomas deeply enjoyed sharing time with his grandchildren and being a grandfather. Thomas is survived and will be dearly missed by his wife, Sharon Sanders at their home in The Dalles, Oregon; two daughters, Shari Sanders Miller of Portland, Oregon and Tina Tennant Weger of Washington; two sons, Ronald R. Tennant of Bend, Oregon and Lonnie G. Tennant of the Dalles, Oregon; granddaughters, Kristen Weger, Jennifer Tennant, Lindsay Marie and Katherine Elizabeth; grandsons, Nicholas Tennant and Justin Christopher; three brothers, Patrick, James and Robert; a sister, Mickey; and other family and many, many friends. He was preceded in death by his parents; Patricia Ward Huffman and Adele Sanders the “greatest mom ever”. Thomas’s family suggests that memorials be made in his memory to Hospice of the Gorge and sent care of Anderson’s. Arrangements are under the direction of Anderson's Tribute Center (Funerals • Receptions • Cremations) 1401 Belmont Avenue, Hood River, OR 97031.