Obituary of Donald Frederick Sanders

July 12, 1930 – Calgary, Alberta

May 30, 2024 – Calgary, Alberta

Donald “Don” Sanders, beloved husband of Myra Sanders (nee Holgate), of Bragg Creek, AB, passed away on Thursday, May 30, 2024, at the age of 93 years.

From early childhood, Don had a love of horses, which became his passion and career choice. Don’s family moved first to Longview and then Black Diamond but by his teen years, he would ride his horses back to Bragg Creek on the weekends. He worked for Freddie Nash eventually taking over the outfit in the late forties, renting out horses from the barn and corals located in Bragg Creek where the Shopping Centre now stands. Many of the part-time residents of Bragg Creek left their horses to his care as well. As Bragg Creek began to grow and expand Don moved his Riding Academy to the home ranch in West Bragg Creek. For many years he accommodated Camp Cadicasu with trail rides for their campers every week in the summer months. The Christine Meikle School came to the camp for a week every year and he fully supported them and their efforts. He truly enjoyed and cared for people. He had a hundred horses out the last summer he ran the big string but too many cars and too many people were a big factor in closing down in the late seventies.

Don still did custom haying, bought and sold horses, ran cattle, and raised some appaloosa. He built a gravel crusher and ran that until he had an accident with a horse in 2002 which resulted in a subdural hematoma and brain surgery. He recovered but he had to get a company in to crush the remaining gravel and all the cattle had to go. He still looked after the ranch and a few horses until his stroke in 2011. For the last thirteen years, he remained paralyzed in his right arm but got around in his golf cart in the summer and always enjoyed the many friends who came to visit. In June of 2023, his skin cancer which he had battled for many years advanced. Radiation treatments from August through October took their toll but he fought the good fight for another nine months. A life well lived.

Don was born in Calgary and brought home to Bragg Creek, where he spent most of his life. He is survived by his wife of 60 years, Myra, his two children, Pam (Sam), and Frances (Martin); his three grandchildren, Amanda (Jay), Jamie, and Danny; his brother Tom, and many nieces, nephews, and cousins.

A Celebration of Don’s Life will be held at the Round Hall (57 Bracken Road, Bragg Creek) on Sunday, July 14, 2024. It will be an Open House starting at 1:30 p.m.

Condolences, memories, and photos may be shared and viewed with Donald’s family here.

In living memory of Donald "Don" Sanders, a tree will be planted in the Ann & Sandy Cross Conservation Area by McInnis & Holloway Funeral Homes, Park Memorial, 5008 Elbow Drive SW, Calgary, AB T2S 2L5, Telephone: 403-243-8200.