Dessie Marie Williams Sanderson, 79, of Swan Quarter, died Monday, October 24, 2016 at her residence.

Born in Hyde County, November 12, 1936, she was the daughter of the late Romulus Sanderson and Laura Marie Spencer Williams. She was married to Thomas E. “Tommy” Sanderson Jr. who preceded her in death.

She was a faithful member of the Swan Quarter Christian Church. Dessie was known for her love for flowers, her gifted green thumb, her pull candy and her love for animals. She also worked at Mattamuskeet School as a custodian, the Mattamuskeet Lodge in the kitchen area and operated the former Fisherman’s Wharf restaurant in Swan Quarter.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 am, Saturday, October 29, 2016, at the Swan Quarter Christian Church. Sonny Furrow, Raffael Farrow and Phil Emmert will officiate. Burial will follow in the family plot in Soule Cemetery.

Surviving are two daughters, Elaine S. Spencer and husband Carl of Engelhard and Ruby S. Brickhouse and husband Donnie of Scranton; eight grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; two sisters, Vergie W. Jones of Washington, Vera W. Blandford of Washington; a sister-in-law, Lois S. Carawan of Swan Quarter.

She was preceded in death by brother, Dorrie Anthony Williams.

The family will receive friends Friday evening from 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm at Bryan Funeral Service, Swan Quarter, and other times at the home place.

Memorial contributions can be made to Open Door Christian Ministries, 500 Weston Rd., Creswell, NC 27928.

Online sympathy messages can be directed to www.bryanfs.com.