Marilyn Lee Sanders - Benton, IL Marilyn Lee Sanders (Mari), 82, of Benton, died at 2:30 a. m. Wednesday, December 11, 2013 at Select Specialty Hospital in Evansville, IN following a long illness. Mrs. Sanders was born on December 15, 1930 in Topeka, KS the daughter of Ernest Moody and Dorothy (Bryan) Moody. She married Samuel Sanders on June 11, 1954 and he preceded her in death on May 25, 2011. Mari graduated from Wichita High School East, St. Francis School of Nursing in Wichita, and received her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from SIU-Edwardsville. She and her husband Samuel (Sam) Sanders were married for forty-six years, until his death in 2001. They lived in Texas, Kansas, Missouri, Georgia, and Illinois. She retired from the Marion VA Medical Center in 2001. Mari enjoyed working at her church, exercising with friends, reading, gardening, and traveling. Surviving relatives include a daughter, Suzanne Robertson, Wichita, KS, four sons, Sam (Challis) Sanders, Jr, Amite, LA, John (Paula) Sanders, Sunrise, FL, Pat (Jill) Sanders, Benton, IL, Dan (Micelle) Sanders, New Orleans, LA, six grandchildren, John, David, Carston, Clare, Josie, and Nate, a sister, Shari May, Wichita, KS, and several nieces and nephews. Mari was preceded in death by her parents, husband, and one brother, Martie Moody. Visitation will be from 4:00 to 7:00 p. m. Friday, December 13, 2013 at the Hobbs-Johnson Funeral Home & Crematory in Benton. A funeral mass will be held will be held at 10:00 a. m. Saturday at the St. Joseph Catholic Church in Benton with Father Joseph Trapp officiating. Burial will be in the Masonic and Odd Fellows Cemetery in Benton. Memorial contributions may be made to the St. Joseph Catholic Church, 506 W. Main St., Benton, IL 62812 and will be accepted at the funeral home.,2013-12-11