Sandra Jean Bruner Tankersley, age 85, died Saturday, May 4, 2024 due to complications of dementia. She passed away peacefully, in her home in Carrollton, TX, surrounded by family. Sandra was born on September 29, 1938 in Fort Worth, Texas, the daughter of Cecil and Ruby Bruner. She was a graduate of North Fort Worth High School. She attended Baylor University where she met her husband of 65 years, Bruce Tankersley. They had three children, Sherilyn, Michael and Steven. Sandra went back to school to earn her Liberal Arts degree from Texas Wesleyan College in Fort Worth. She worked in the medical field for years and was a licensed Medical Staff Credentialist. She worked for almost 20 years at Marshall Memorial Hospital in Marshall, Texas where she and Bruce lived from 1977-2020. She and her husband were actively involved in community activities. This included volunteering at Marshall Manor and a strong commitment to church life. She and her husband had a strong involvement in civic, educational, and cultural organizations. She participated in faculty wives’ activities at East Texas Baptist University where her husband was a professor. Sandra’s hearing loss led to her involvement in the hard of hearing community, primarily SHHH, Self Help for Hard of Hearing. She held leadership roles for many years in Shreveport and was instrumental in the creation of the Longview chapter of SHHH. She was an advocate for increasing awareness and understanding for the hard of hearing community.

Sandra’s hobbies included gardening, entertaining and traveling. She and her husband were socially and culturally involved in the community. She also loved music and was an accomplished pianist. She and Bruce had a close relationship with friends, “The Group”, with whom they enjoyed eating out, traveling, and years of special times.

Sandra was preceded in death by her parents Cecil and Ruby Bruner. She is survived by her husband, Bruce, daughter, Sherilyn Stewart and husband Will of Terrell, TX, and two sons, Michael Tankersley of

Montgomery, TX and his step daughter Sade Gladney of Houston, TX and Steven Tankersley and wife Tammy of Carrollton, TX. She is also survived by her beloved grandsons, Thomas Stewart of Los Angeles, CA, Julian Stewart of Los Angeles, CA and Wesley Stewart and wife, Kaytlynn of Kailua, Hawaii. She is also survived by her two brothers, Joel Bruner and wife Brenda and David Bruner and wife Becky.

The family would like to thank the loving caregivers at Trinity House residential home in Carrollton and Accord Palliative and Hospice Care in Dallas.