Tommy Joe Sanborn

Tommy Joe Sanborn was born December 14, 1949, to Clifford Loren and Alice Lola Brown Sanborn in Cherokee, Oklahoma. Tom passed from this life on February 20, 2024 in Wichita Kansas after a short stay in the hospital with his wife by his side. Tom is survived by his wife, Anna, and one brother Robert, Three daughters, Tonya Tullis, Amantha Sanborn, and Rebecca Sanborn, 11 grandchildren, one great-grandchild, and many nieces and nephews. 

Tom loved the outdoors so much that on the very first warm day of the year, you could find him out in his garden turning the soil, getting ready to plant his crop of tomatoes. He loved tomatoes, especially Cherokee Purples. They were his favorites, and he wasn't afraid to let you know.  He loved tomatoes so much that the grandkids called him “Tomato Tom” when they were little.  If you couldn't find Tom and Anna in the garden, they were probably driving the dirt roads hunting for cool and unique rocks to add to their collection.  These rocks can now be found either somewhere in the house, car, or holding up the back fence.  He could build just about anything from nothing: all you needed was a dream and a piece of paper to show him.  He kept every scrap because he believed that “Once I get rid of it I would need it.”

Tom was a carpenter by trade, but he did a lot of different work over the years.  His work mainly consisted of building furniture to masonry work or tiling to roofing. He, however, gave up the roofing when he fell and broke his arm. He’d get “jello legs” when he got on the ladder after that.  Someone once asked Tom how he learned to do all the things he knew how to do, and he said, “It’s from the necessity of living in older homes.” 

He is preceded in death by his parents; three sisters, Yvonne, Linda, and Betty; his only son, Tommy Joe II, and one brother, James. 

Tom is survived by his wife, Anna; three daughters, Tonya Tullis, Amantha Sanborn, and Rebecca Sanborn; eleven grandchildren; one great-grandchild; one brother, Robert, and many nieces and nephews. 

Tom will be laid to rest with a graveside service at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, February 24, 2024, at the Cherokee Municipal Cemetery. Arrangements are by Lanman Funeral Home, Inc. www.lanmanfuneralhome.com Facebook: Lanman Funeral Home Inc.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the love fund set up at ACB Bank Cherokee to help the family cover funeral costs.