PERRY SANDIFER

FORT WORTH -- Perry Alton Sandifer, 98, a beloved husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather and great-great-grandfather, died peacefully Sunday afternoon, Feb. 15, 2009. ?????? Funeral: 2 p.m. Wednesday in the chapel at Robertson Mueller Harper. The Rev. Dr. Carroll Marr, pastor of Southcliff Baptist Church, will officiate. Visitation: Mr. Sandifer will lie in state Tuesday, where his family will receive friends 5 to 7 p.m. in the Great Room. ?????? Bearers of his casket will be his grandsons, Wes Shannon, Brian Shannon, Troy Batts and Steven Borum. ?????? Memorials: Consideration of contributions to the Southcliff Baptist Church Orchestra, in Perry's memory, is suggested. ?????? Born in Decatur on Aug. 1, 1910, Perry was the son of Thomas Irving and Rosa Anice Hackler Sandifer. He became a Christian at 9 years of age and joined Decatur Baptist Church. He was presently a member of Southcliff Baptist Church in Fort Worth. ?????? Perry graduated from Decatur High School in 1926 and received a full scholarship from Texas Christian University. He earned bachelor's and master's degrees in both foreign language and music from TCU. ?????? He played trombone in the Fort Worth Symphony and the Fort Worth Opera Orchestras. He was band director in Bangs and Harlingen and directed the Arlington Heights and Polytechnic high schools' bands in Fort Worth. He was coordinator of music for many years for the Fort Worth Independent School District, during which he organized the All City Orchestra and Chorus and helped coordinate the Van Cliburn competitions. ?????? In addition, Perry played his saxophone, clarinet and trombone professionally with his brothers, Sandy and Cody Sandifer, in area bands and orchestras. He also played with Charlie Patteson, Ed Lally, the National Guard Band, the Shrine Band, Rodeo Band, Fort Worth City Band, Southcliff Baptist Church orchestra and many others. He played in the Shrine Circus Band for 52 years. He was President of Local #72 Musicians' Union. ?????? Survivors: In addition to his wife of 68 years, Della Morgan Sandifer, Mr. Sandifer is survived by his son, Harry Alton Sandifer; daughters, Darla Sandifer Shannon and her husband, Frank, of Fort Worth, Pat Sandifer Borum and her husband, Stan, of Tyler and Teri Sandifer Spring of Fort Worth; grandchildren, Paul Reinhard and his wife, Karen, Cody Sandifer and his wife, Shannon, Dana and Justin Sandifer, Wes Shannon, Brian Shannon and his wife, Sarah Lorraine, Sarah Beth Shannon Batts and her husband, Troy, Traci Borum, Karen Borum Ratekin and her husband, Brent, Steven Borum and his wife, Catherine, Kristian Spring and Jan Shannon; 18 great-grandchildren; and one great-great-grandchild. Robertson Mueller Harper Funerals & Cremations 1500 Eighth Ave., 817-924-4233 To send flowers or a memorial gift to the family of PERRY SANDIFER please visit our Sympathy Store.