December 24, 1929 - September 24, 2024
Eva Lea Sanford was born Dec. 24, 1929 in Saltillo, Tennessee to Mary and Edward Sanford. She passed away Sept. 24, 2024 at the age of 94 years.
At the age of seven, after the death of her mother at an early age, she and her sister Pattie were brought to Bristow to live with an aunt and uncle they had never met.
They lived with Ruth and Dewey White at the Texas Co. Oil lease 15 miles southwest of town in the Valentine community. Eva graduated from Gypsy High School in 1947 and was Salutatorian of her class. She was fortunate enough to be employed as a telephone operator for S.W. Bell. This was before Bristow had dial services so she said “Number Please” and “Thank You”many times. During her career as a telephone operator, she worked five years in San Diego, California. This was during the war in 1952. 90% or more of the long-distance calls were from servicemen to their families. And most everyone you met on the street was in uniform. In 1957 they moved back to Bristow to be near their families and friends. And Eva was able to transfer back to her old job. In 1983 she retired from the telephone company after 10 years of service being a telephone operator and working 22 years in the business office as a service representative.
Eva and Jack were married in 1949 and after being married 63 years Jack passed away March 24, 2012. They had two children, Morris was born Nov. 2, 1951 in the U.S. Naval Hospital in San Diego and Pam was born Sept. 3, 1954 in Villa View Hospital in San Diego. Both were very good, sweet babies with curly hair. They took them both to church from the time they were about two weeks old. Jack was so good to help take care of them.
Eva loved music especially religious music. She sang in a trio at church and in the choir. She took piano and organ lessons and in her younger years played at church.
She is survived by one son, Morris Hancock; one daughter, Pam McDonald; one sister, Pat Shamas and husband Ray; four grandchildren, Kris McDonald and wife Jamie, Chad McDonald and wife Amy, Matt Hancock and wife Tommie Jane, Miranda Littke and husband Logan; 10 great grandchildren, Maci, Emmi, Cooper, Levi, and Knox McDonald, Maddox, Sawyer, and Devin Hancock, P.K. and Hudson Littke.
She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, and five brothers.
Funeral services are 1 p.m., Thursday, Oct. 4, 2024, at Hutchins-Maples Matherly Funeral Home.
Online condolences may be made to the family at www.matherlyfuneralhomes.co m.
In lieu of flowers donations can be made to Clarehouse Hospice, 7617 S. Mingo Road, Tulsa, Oklahoma 74133, www.clarehouse.org.