Lucille Saunders

Lucille Saunders December 12, 1914 - March 31, 2010 Lucille Saunders of Waco passed away Wednesday, March 31, 2010, at her home. There will be a graveside service at Oakwood Cemetery at 10:00 a.m., Saturday, April 3, with Jeff Fisher officiating. The family invites friends and family for visitation at Lucille's home, 3021 Wooded Acres, on Friday evening from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. Also, all are invited to a brunch at her home following the service. Lucille was born December 12, 1914, in Waco. She is preceded in death by her husband, Marshall L. Saunders, and her parents, G.C. and Lila Thomsen. Together with her husband and parents, they owned and operated Perfection Co. in Waco, where her father developed the original formula for Big Red soda. The company later became known as Big Red, Inc. They were partners with the Robert Roark family of Fort Worth and Donal Sharp of Waco. Lucille and Marshall were active members of St. Alban's Episcopal and were part of the founding members that started that church in 1946. She was a member of St. Alban's Guild and The Daughters of the Republic of Texas. Lucille was loved by many in the Waco community and was renowned as a gracious hostess and excellent cook. She was a talented seamstress and enjoyed sewing for herself and others. Lucille is survived by daughters, Jane Saunders of Waco, Patricia Parkman and husband, Dick, of Dallas; son, Marshall Saunders, Jr. and wife, Pamela, of Coronado, CA.; three brothers, Alex, William and Robert Thomsen, and their spouses; and a sister, Katherine T. Ladd. She is also survived by eight grandchildren who loved her deeply, Richard, Russell and Andrew Parkman, Britt and Lucy Saunders, Matthew, Jacob and Lila Brown, and their spouses; and by seven great-grandchildren, Sklar, Savannah, Ty and Owen Brown, Grant, Lexi and Gavin Parkman. Lucille's favorite charities were the MCC nursing program, where she started a scholarship program, Waco Public Library and Planned Parenthood of Waco. The family would like to thank Lucille's devoted caregivers, Becca Loredo and Brenda Walker, and also Providence Hospice. The family invites you to leave a message or memory in our "Memorial Guestbook" at www.wilkirsonhatchbailey.com.