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Kenneth Nathaniel Saunders, 55, of East Palatka, entered the sunset of life on Tuesday, February 16, 2016 at Shands & UF, Gainesville. A native of Welch, West Virginia, he was the son of Nathaniel and Catherine Deborah (Robinson) Saunders. He was educated in the McDowell County School District and a 1978 graduate of Mt. View High School, Welch, WV. He played on the basketball team and also earned carpentry certification from the Vocational School. He attended Lovely Zion Baptist Churchin Bottom Creek, WV and spent most of his adult life in Carswell, WV. In 1980, he enlisted into the U.S. Army and earned numerous commendations including Marksman, M-16 Rifle Expert, Hand Grenade, and Army Service Ribbon as he served overseas in Germany. After his military serving, Kenneth resided in Washington, D.C., before relocating to Florida in 1990. He was an avid FSU Seminoles football fan. Although confined to a wheelchair following an auto accident in 2005, Kenneth maintained a positive attitude and was well respected by his neighbors. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in eternal rest by stepsons , Victor Howard and Lorenzo Varnes; brother , Scottie Eugene Saunders; paternal grandmother , Mildred T. Saunders; maternal grandparents, David and Mary Bell Robinson.

He leaves to cherish his memories, devoted wife of 22 years , Carrie Lee Davis Saunders, East Palatka; step-sons , Eric "Snook" Merritt (Sabrina), Union City, GA;

Frank "Pop" McClelland IV and Ronald "Pooh" McClelland, East Palatka; step-daughters, Thea "Granny" Davis, Daytona Beach; Lavanda "Mammy" (William) Torrance, McDonough, GA; Laquita "Ponkey" Davis, Palm Coast; Bernadette "Heaky" Davis, Palatka; mother-in-law , Katie Mae Davis, East Palatka, siblings, James (Ann) Robinson NC; Diane (Jerry) Gravely, Christiansburg, VA; Mary Saunders, Bluefield, VA; Angela Anderson, VA; Paristina Saunders, Dallas, GA; Patricia Smith, Carolyn Saunders, Cynthia Hairston, and Michael Saunders, all of Washington, DC; David (Lisa) Saunders, Bowie, MD; 17 Grandchildren, 5 great-grands and a host of other relatives and friends.

Homegoing Celebration with military honors will be 3 p.m., Saturday, February 20 at Mt. Tabor First Baptist Church, 4909 St. Johns Avenue, Palatka with public visitation scheduled one hour prior to services. Elder David Roberts, Pastor, Church of God by Faith, East Palatka is the eulogist. Interment will be 10 a.m., Monday, February 22, at the Jacksonville National Cemetery.