Dora Sanders, 88, of Broken Arrow, Oklahoma died Thursday, January 23, 2025 in Tulsa.
Dora was born in Van Horn, Texas on November 14, 1936 to Martin and Paz Fierro. Dora was the middle of 7 children, with 1 older sister, 2 older brothers, 2 younger sisters, and 1 younger brother. Dora had fond memories of her father working on a ranch in West Texas and her mother cleaning houses and tending her children.

In her early 20s, Dora moved to Santa Monica, California and began working at a telephone company as an operator. During this time, she met Walter Sanders, who would go on to become her husband of 58 years. They became friends, during which point he nicknamed her "Doby," which she went by for the rest of her life. They loved to go dancing, eventually fell in love, got engaged, and were married on July 21, 1962. They had 3 daughters, Kateri, Daria, and Anne, and 1 son, Duane. In 1967, Walt's company moved their family to Broken Arrow, Oklahoma for his job.

Dora spent her life involved with the Catholic Church in every town she lived in. She worked on the parish council, was a member of the church choir, served as a troupe leader for the Junior and Juniorette organization for girls, was a Eucharistic minister, taught CCD, volunteered in the church office, and joined the women's altar society, among many other activities. She loved her church and her family and was deeply loved in return.

Dora was preceded in death by her husband Walt; her daughter Kateri; her parents; one sister, Amalia Barge; and 2 brothers, Carlos Perez and Miguel Fierro.

Dora is survived by two daughters, Daria Blocker and her husband Vince, Anne Fell and her husband David; one son, Duane Sanders and his wife Katie; one brother Enrique Alvarado and his wife Nena; and two sisters, Lila Nunez and her husband Mundo and Josephina Hurtado. She is also survived by 6 grandchildren; Lauren O'Neill and her husband Brad; Zachry Williams and his wife Melissa; Nicholas Perez and his wife Jennifer; Natalie Campbell and her husband Andrew; Patrick Nickel and his wife Hailey, and Michael Nickel; as well as 5 great-grandchildren; Hali Williams, Gavin Williams, Benjamin Campbell, Rory Campbell, and Amalia O'Neill, as well as many nieces and nephews.

The funeral rosary, Mass, and burial will be held on Monday, January 27, 2025 in a private ceremony for immediate family members only. Funeral arrangements are under the care of Fitzgerald Southwood Colonial Funeral Home, 3612 E. 91st. Street South, Tulsa, OK. 74137