John Saunders

John Saunders, 71, of Portersville passed away Tuesday after a short battle with ALS at the VNA Inpatient Hospice.

Born Sept. 25, 1944, in Ellwood City, he was the son of the late Frank and Malzina (Ellefson) Saunders.

John drove a truck for 42 years for GNC.

He was a lifetime member and director of the Castlewood Rod and Gun Club. He was also a lifetime and 52-year member of the Portersville Muddy Creek Volunteer Fire Department. He served on the Portersville Borough Council for a number of years. He belonged to the Harmony Masonic Lodge 429, New Castle Consistory and the Syria Shriners.

In his free time, he was an avid hunter and sporting clay shooter. He will be dearly missed and fondly remembered.

He is survived by his beloved wife, Kay (Kniess) Saunders; two sons, Jeff (Bobbie) Saunders of West Virginia and Tim (Stephanie) Saunders of Portersville; two daughters, Marci Gibson and Jodi (Dave) Aiken, both of Portersville; his siblings, Frank (Becky) Saunders of California, Bob (Deb) Saunders of New Castle, Rick (Vicki) Saunders of Portersville, Beth (David) Bratcher of Florida and Terri (Bill) Dougherty of New Hampshire; five granddaughters; three grandsons; eight great-grandchildren, and numerous nieces and nephews.

SAUNDERS — The family of John Saunders, who died Tuesday, Dec. 8, 2015, will welcome friends from 2 to 4 p.m. and 6 to 8 p.m. Friday at the Boylan Funeral Home, 324 E. Grandview Ave., Zelienople.A funeral ceremony will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at the funeral home with the Rev. Tod Custer officiating. He will be laid to rest at the Portersville Bible Church Cemetery.In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial donations may be made in John's honor to the VNA Inpatient Hospice, 115 Technology Drive, Butler, PA 16001, or to the Portersville Muddy Creek Volunteer Fire Department, P.O. Box 248, Portersville, PA 16051.Expressions of sympathy may be shared with the family at www.boylanfuneralservices.com.