Ella Coats Sanders

Ella Coats Sanders, 81, of Beaumont, Texas, died Monday, December 4, 2023, at Baptist Hospitals of Southeast Texas, Beaumont. She was born February 9, 1942, to Bernice and Bill Coats in Pleasant Hill, Louisiana.

She is survived by her daughter, Sheri Sanders Givens and her husband, Kevin, of Sudbury, Massachusetts; sister, Gladys Thompson and her husband Don of Lindale, Texas; grandchildren, Stephanie Sanders Gallo and her husband, Valentino of Vidor; Joe Sanders of Buna; Shawn Sanders of Buna; Grayson Givens of Sudbury, Massachusetts; and Fallon Givens of Sudbury, Massachusetts.

She is preceded in death by her husband, Steve Sanders; her parents, Bill and Bernice Coats; and her son, Stephen Sanders.

Born and raised in Pleasant Hill, Louisiana, Ella graduated from Pleasant Hill High School in 1961. She was one of nine children, and she truly cared about each of her siblings.

She worked at Southwestern Bell Telephone Company as a telephone operator. She completed coursework to become a travel agent. She worked as a homemaker raising her two children. And later, she oversaw administrative functions at her husband’s long-standing family roofing business.

Her favorite calling and purpose was being a mother and a grandmother. With a twinkle in her sparkling blue eyes and a sweet smile, she often bragged about them, their work, and their accomplishments, beaming with pride and love. She had a big heart, accompanied by a big laugh.

Ella married her husband, Steve, in 1966, celebrating their 56th anniversary just prior to his passing in 2022. He was the love of her life, her soulmate, and his passing was a devastating loss. She liked sharing the stories of how they first met while both “cruising” past the Pig Stand, with their respective friends, along College Street in Beaumont, or how they would go fishing and crabbing when they first started dating. You could always see them sharing a sweet kiss, a big hug, or a gentle pat, evidencing their tender love for one another. And, she was an amazing cook – if her husband fished or hunted it, she could fry it up with the best of them, along with the accompanying southern-style sides.

Ella loved reading. Like really, really loved reading. You might call her day or night and find her finishing a book that she “just could not put down.” Espionage and international intrigue, with a side of romance, were her go-to thrillers. She would go to the library, local stores, or thrift shops, buying scores of books, quickly diving in and devouring the rich stories (sometimes within a single day), sharing summaries or favorite scenes with anyone who would listen, and handing off beloved novels to family, friends, and neighbors.

She also enjoyed shopping, a bit of gambling, and traveling. Though an avid outlet and mall sale-shopper for many years, she really enjoyed armchair bargain hunting while watching QVC in her later years, unwrapping the boxes upon arrival like a giddy child on Christmas, frequently purchasing items to give as gifts to family.  You could also find her at Grand Casino Coushatta either attending a country music concert or visiting with her “extended” family and friends while enjoying the penny slot machines.  Some of her favorite solo, family, and friend trips were to Spain, Puerto Rico, Mexico, Hawaii, Nevada, and the southern states. New Orleans was an oft-visited top town on her list. Numerous times, she road tripped across the South with her girlfriends and her daughter.

Her daughter was her best friend (and vice versa). They talked nearly daily, sharing updates about things like the mundane every day “life stuff” to accounts of her grandchildren’s activities.

A gathering of Mrs. Sanders’ family and friends will be from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m., Sunday, December 10, 2023, at Broussard’s, 1605 North Major Drive, Beaumont. Her funeral service will be 10:00 a.m., Monday, December 11, 2023, at Broussard’s, with her interment to follow at Magnolia Cemetery, Beaumont.

Memorial contributions can be made to the Julie Roger’s Gift of Life supporting breast cancer, 2390 Dowlen Road Beaumont, Texas 77706.