W. Chris Sanders

William Chris Sanders

October 15, 1950 to March 4, 2021 (age 70)

William Chris Sanders succumbed to the COVID virus on Thursday, March 4, 2021 at Mountain View Regional Hospital, Las Cruces, NM after a very brief illness.  Chris had been a long-time resident of southern New Mexico. He owned and operated Medicine Shoppe Pharmacies in Lordsburg (his first pharmacy), Silver City and Deming, New Mexico from 1974 until selling  to Walgreens in 2012. He was then employed by Walgreens from 2013 to 2015, working as a pharmacy manager from 2014 to 2015. He spent his last two years in pharmacy as the staff pharmacist for St. Luke’s Health Care Clinic (Community of Hope), Las Cruces, NM (2016 to 2018). After retirement, Chris volunteered weekly at El Caldito Soup Kitchen.

While operating Lordsburg Drug (which became a Medicine Shoppe), Chris Sanders was very active in the Lordsburg community/ Hidalgo County for over 30 years. Chris volunteered with the Hidalgo Co. Fire and Rescue (1975 to 1979), served as training Sgt. for New Mexico State Police Mounted Patrol Hidalgo Co. Troop #21(1981).  He was elected to serve as Lordsburg/Hidalgo Co. Chamber of Commerce President (1978 to 1980).  Gov. Gary Carruthers appointed him to the State of New Mexico Parks and Recreations Commission, where he served from 1985 to 1989. He was a member of the Lordsburg First Methodist Church where he sang in the choir for many years. From 1979 to 1982, Chris was a member, along with Jim Culberson, Vic Culberson, and Art Malott, of the spiritual men’s quartet, “Southwind” that traveled southern New Mexico entertaining and inspiring many churches and faith gatherings.  As one of the founding members of Hidalgo Medical Services in Lordsburg, Silver City, Bayard, Mimbres and Cliff, NM, he participated for 5 years. Serving the people of Lordsburg, Silver City and Deming was one of Chris’ greatest passions..

Chris was born in Hobart, Oklahoma to William (Bill) Wallace Sanders and Hallie Scott Sanders. In 1958, the family moved to Albuquerque for new career opportunities. He graduated from Del Norte High School in 1968 and went on to attend UNM in Albuquerque, NM. While at UNM, he was a member of Kappa Alpha Men’s Fraternity. He served as fraternity president during his final year at UNM. Chris graduated from the University of New Mexico School of Pharmacy in 1973 as one of the first group of nuclear pharmacists to graduate from UNM. He worked as a staff pharmacist at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Albuquerque, NM. until he and his father, Bill, purchased Eagle Drug in Lordsburg, NM, changing the name to Lordsburg Drug in 1974.

Chris Sanders is preceded in death by his parents, Bill and Hallie Sanders.  Survivors are: his sons; Bradley, (Katie) of Gilbert, AZ., Clinton of Tucson, AZ, and Cory of Mesa, AZ., his former wife, Pamela MacGibbon Sanders, and three grandchildren, Layne Willson, Kit Sanders and Mason Sanders.  Two sisters, Chery Sanders Mehalko, (John) of Albuquerque, and Cindy Sanders Youngs, (Martin) of Albuquerque. He also leaves behind nieces-Lisa Mehalko and Julia Youngs, and nephews-Eric Mehalko, Keith Brownfield and Jesse Brownfield, as well as numerous great nieces and nephews.

Cremation has been entrusted to Baca’s Mimbres Crematory, Deming, NM.  Due to continued restrictions in New Mexico, the memorial services for William Chris Sanders will be delayed until July 10, 2021. Services will take place at the Heart for the World Church, 1605 S. Valley Dr., Las Cruces, New Mexico at 10:00 am.  A reception will be held afterward at The Hampton Inn and Suites, 1641 Hickory Loop, Las Cruces, NM. In lieu of flowers please donate to:  Cystic Fibrosis Research, Inc. (CFRI), 1730 Embarcadero Rd., Suite 10, Palo Alto, CA 94303 or Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, 4550 Montgomery Ave., Suite 1100 N, Bethesda, MD, 20814.

The family is thankful for all the wonderful outpouring of prayers and condolences.

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