Mildred Ellen Saunders' Obituary
Mildred Saunders of Carrollton, Texas was born on December 27, 1933, in Knoxville, Tennessee (Knox County) to Clifford and Edna Cruze. She was reunited with God on February 5th, 2026, after pneumonia and other breathing complications.
Preceded in death by her mother, Edna; her father, Clifford; her daughter, Debbie Martinez; her grandson, AJ Stone; her great-granddaughter, Abigail Paslay, several brothers and a sister.
She is survived by a very large, extended family:
Brother; Richard Holland, four daughters; Kathy, Becky, Yolanda, Mary, two sons; Joey, James, two stepsons; David, Derek, 27 grandchildren, 41 great-grandchildren and 7 great-great-grandchildren. Who knew one lovely woman, the Matriarch, could be the beginning of such a large and loving family?
She worked for Dallas Power and Light and Zales Jewelry Stores (in the mail room) at the corporate headquarters in Dallas. She was respected and loved by her coworkers and boss.
In 1949, she married Joe Martinez Sr. (21 yrs), when she was very young (16 yrs), had a great life and 7 lovely children. Five daughters and two sons, whom she always loved, guarded and protected.
They were what she wanted and needed the most, in this life. So, she might have spoiled them a little. But they all grew up to be wonderful adults, with families of their own.
In 1971, she married Curtis Saunders (54 yrs), all they had together was a French poodle named Sir Don Juan who had them trained, in a short amount of time.
Her Father died when Mildred was 4 or 5 and left the Tennessee family almost destitute. She had a rough life during her early years and was separated from her mother and most of her siblings, for a couple of years, that she spent in an orphanage in Tennessee. Her stepfather, Dick Holland, came along and pulled the whole family back together and moved from Tennessee to Texas where he became a Master electrician and provided a good life for them. Through all this she never lost her positive attitude and a very loving nature. She was a very strong, patient woman. (Being married to Curtis was proof of that.)
Services will be held in the Memorial Chapel on Monday February 16 at 2:00PM at Restland Funeral Home & Cemetery, 13005 Greenville Avenue, Dallas, Texas 75243, (Ph 972-238-7111). A visitation will be held there on Sunday February 15, 2026, between 1 and 5PM.
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