Our legacy
About Us
Years of experience have taught us how to provide meaningful options without making the process feel overwhelming. We understand that every family includes different voices, concerns, and priorities, and we are committed to guiding each person with patience, compassion, and clear direction.
Our goal is to create a welcoming and supportive experience from the moment you contact us. We take the time to plan alongside families, remain current with changes in funeral service, and help ease the burden during life’s most difficult moments.
Our Story
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Welcome to sanders funeral service
Sanders Funeral Service is the only locally owned and family-operated funeral service in Kingfisher, Oklahoma.
A Legacy of Service
Arthur Bracken founded Kingfisher Funeral Home in 1899. In 1905, he helped establish the Oklahoma Board of Embalmers and personally wrote its by-laws—many of which are still in use today. He also held the first embalmer’s license in the state, proudly displayed in the foyer of Sanders Funeral Service.
In 1967, Rusty Sanders relocated his family to Kingfisher to serve as a Funeral Director and Embalmer under Fred Langley. Embracing the small-town values of Kingfisher, Rusty and Fran chose to raise their family here. In 1978, Rusty purchased the funeral home in downtown Kingfisher and renamed it Sanders Funeral Service.
Serving Families with Care and Expertise
Growing up in the funeral industry, Chad Sanders spent much of his childhood observing his father serve and comfort families during their most difficult times. He began working alongside Rusty while still in high school and later earned a Bachelor’s degree in Funeral Science from the University of Central Oklahoma. In 1991, he became a licensed Funeral Director and Embalmer.
Under his father’s guidance, Chad developed both the technical skill and the compassion needed to earn the trust and respect of the families he serves. He is especially known for his expertise in restorative art and funeral cosmetology, ensuring that loved ones are presented with dignity and peace. As Chad shares, “Giving families that final image of their loved one resting at peace is important to me and something I strive to achieve for every family we serve.”
family and community
Chad is married to Shelley Sanders, the funeral home’s office administrator. Together, they raised their children in Kingfisher and now enjoy spending time with their six grandchildren.
Shelley brings more than 30 years of experience as a registered nurse and paramedic, with much of her career dedicated to emergency medicine, including serving with Mediflight. She has also cared for patients at Kingfisher Regional Hospital and served her community through the Kingfisher Fire Department. Today, she assists with office operations and social media for the funeral home, leads Sanders Floral Design, and works part-time with nursing students at Chisholm Trail Technology Center.
Before her nursing career, Shelley was a floral designer—a gift that continues to shine through in the care, creativity, and attention to detail she brings to each service. With a servant’s heart, she is honored to walk alongside families during life’s most difficult moments, offering compassion, comfort, and beauty in every detail.
Sanders Funeral Service is one of Oklahoma’s oldest continually operating funeral homes. While many funeral homes across the country have been absorbed by corporate chains, the Sanders family is proud to remain a true local presence—deeply rooted in the Kingfisher community for more than 59 years. Their historic white funeral home in downtown Kingfisher has served the county for more than a century, and the family looks forward to many more years of caring service.
OUR SERVICES
Sanders Funeral Service offers full-service funerals and cremations in a setting designed to provide comfort and support. Our newly remodeled chapel accommodates large family gatherings, and we go the extra mile to ensure every Celebration of Life is a meaningful reflection of the individual being honored.
Understanding that families are often navigating one of the most difficult days of their lives, we strive to make the arrangement process as simple and comforting as possible. To better serve those who place their trust in us, we also offer in-house floral design through Sanders Floral Design. This service allows families to make floral selections during the arrangement conference, eliminating the need for additional appointments and giving them more time to be together.
With Shelley Sanders’ background in floral design—having managed a large flower shop in California for many years—each arrangement is created with a personal, thoughtful touch, helping to beautifully honor and reflect the life being remembered.
