Jan 6, 1930 - Mar 10, 2023

James “Jim” A. Sanders was born in Osage, Iowa, Jan. 6, 1930. His family moved to Southern California in 1946 where he later graduated from Claremont High School, played varsity football and met Jo (Harriet) Jaeger, his future wife. They both graduated from Pomona College — Jim with a BS degree in Education.

He and Jo were soon married in Las Vegas, Nevada, and moved to Calaveras County in 1952, where he was offered a job with the California Youth Authority at Fricot Ranch School (now Rite of Passage). Jim taught school at Fricot until it closed. They lived in state housing for five years, and then built a home and moved to Murphys, where they raised their five children. Jim continued to work for CYA at Preston in Ione. He got his Master’s Degree in Correctional Education, and then taught at DeWitt Nelson in Stockton until that facility closed — 56 years working for the state of California CYA.

Jim served on the Calaveras County Juvenile Justice Commission and was a Boy Scout Leader in Murphys. Scouting was important to him as he was an Eagle Scout himself. Family camping and outdoor vacations were a favorite of his each summer. He enjoyed fishing at Lake Alpine (where they had a cabin), Spicer, Utica and Union reservoirs, and many years at New Melones Lake, where they had a small houseboat. Jim looked forward to annual deer and elk hunting trips in Idaho, Wyoming and Montana.

He passed away peacefully on March 10, 2023, at his home in Murphys at the age of 93 with his wife and family by his side. Jim lived a long life and will be missed by all who knew and loved him.

He is survived by his wife of 71 years, Jo (Harriet) Sanders, and his children Teri Amstutz Arnott, Rod Sanders, Marsha Sanders, Kurt Sanders, Connie Sanders, nine grandchildren and 18 great-grandchildren. The family will have a private service at the Murphys Cemetery.