Sally Dell Bruner Sanford of Mineola, Texas passed away in her sleep at the age of 93 on January 17, 2023. Known as Perky to her family and many friends, she was a lifelong resident of Mineola until her last years spent in skilled nursing care in Bryan, Texas.
Perky was born to Delta Bruner and Sallie Dorrill June 4, 1929 in Mineola, TX. Perky is survived by her only child, Connie Sanford Ferguson, son-in-law James Ferguson, grandchildren Brent Ferguson (Kimberly) of Cibolo, TX, Jena Crossley (Aaron) of Leander, TX, Micah Ferguson, World Traveler, and 5 greatgrandchildren (born to Jena: Audrey Kalyn, Patricia Jean, and Christopher Eric Davis; born to Brent: Ember Alyse and Brannon Thomas Ferguson.)
She is also survived by her beloved nieces, Judy Fowler, Phyllis Maddox, Jerre Zuber-Vest, Becky Sanford Adkins and nephews, James Fowler and Dana Glen Wells.
Perky was preceded in death by her husband, Melvin Thomas Sanford and her four sisters, Geneva Wood, Obie Shipp, Kathleen Fowler, Janice Maddox, four nieces and three nephews.
Perky attended Tyler Junior College graduating Magna Cum Laude with a degree in real estate and was a licensed broker. She worked for Kinsella Realty and Reep Real Estate for many years and enjoyed the interaction with her co-workers and the many people she helped find property. Her husband, Melvin teased that she ran a free tour guide service.
Perky was a faithful lifelong member of First Baptist Church, WMU, choir, and taught Sunday School. She loved the Lord with all her heart and showed God’s goodness by giving of herself to help others. Many people, with illness or deaths in their family, received her wonderful pound cakes and expertly cooked meals through the years. She also served in United Transportation Union Ladies Auxiliary and the Mineola High School Band Boosters. She enjoyed bowling on the women’s league at Melon Lanes in Mineola easily scoring 180. She helped build many parade floats for the Volunteer Fire Department and loved going to the Christmas Ball annually to dance with her husband. She also enjoyed performing. She performed solo comedy skits for women’s clubs. At Mineola High School, she performed a drama based on her mother’s family moving to Texas and the hardships they faced in the late 1800s.
Perky was known for her sense of humor and wit, her baking, sewing and cooking. She loved her family. Her birthday parties for Connie were legendary and remembered to this day. Her chicken salad sandwiches were the first to sell out at the Band Booster concessions during home football games. She was a devoted grandmother or Neenaw as the children named her. Visits to Neenaw’s house always included trips to the Civic Center playground, Dairy Queen for ice cream, the lake, picnics, feasts of delicious home cooked food, and drives down ‘drop-off hill’. Every summer she made sure her grandchildren had summer camps and Vacation Bible School experiences. She continued to have a positive role as Great Neenaw while her health permitted. Perky modeled daily what it means to be a Proverbs 31 woman and she was loved.
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