April 17, 1947 – March 12, 2026

Marlys Ann Sanders passed away on March 12, 2026 in Redding, Ca. from complications related to Parkinson’s Disease. She was 78 years old. Marlys’s friends and family stayed by her side during her final days.

Marlys was born in Lincoln, Nebraska on April 17, 1947 to Elvin and Vera Eden. She was the eldest sister of Vicki and Syndi. Her family moved to the Bay Area of California in 1957 and then to Modesto, California in 1965. Marlys met her love, Forrest Sanders, in college in 1967. Their marriage of over 50 years began in 1968 until Forrest’s sudden death in 2019. Marlys never truly recovered from losing Forrest.

Marlys and Forrest lived in Eureka, California and then Fresno, California where they had their first child, Michelle. They then settled in Hathaway Pines, California and had two more children, Lisa and Kristofor. The family relocated to southern Oregon and then spent 30 years in El Dorado Hills, California. After losing Forrest, Marlys moved to Penn Valley, California and then to Redding, California.

The family grew as Michelle married Chris Lewis and had a daughter, Alexandria. Lisa married Michael Kielich and had a son, Forest and a daughter, Mila. Kristofor married Andrea Springer and had a son, Hudson and a daughter, Jade. Marlys was an exuberantly fun and playful mother and grandmother and was cherished for these loving traits.

Marlys spent time as a dental assistant, a stay at home mom and worked in schools positively impacting the lives of children with her gifts of light hearted joy and imagination. Marlys will be remembered for her kindness, beauty, humor, child-like spirit and affable personality.

Marlys loved Christmas and birthdays, bright colors, the ocean, a good story, late night talks, traditions, children, sunshine, flowers, gardens, God, her family and friends. She was loved dearly and will be greatly missed.

Donations can be made in Marlys’s honor to the following organizations:
1. Parkinson’s Foundation – parkinson.org
18004PDINFO or 1800 2734636

2. Dignity Health Connected Living
100 Mercy Oaks Dr.
Redding, CA 96003
Attn: Redding Parkinson’s Support Group
checks: to DHCL with FBO Redding Parkinson’s Group in the comments.