Johnnie Norman Sanford, 81, of Gainesville, passed away on Tuesday, July 22, 2014. He was born on February 15, 1933 in Lamesa, Texas to Douglas Sanford and Esie McGee Sanford. He married Alice Valdez in Colorado Springs in 1953 and was a member of the Central Baptist Church in Gainesville.

Visitation will be held on Friday, July 25, 2014 from 6-8 pm at DeBerry Funeral Directors. The funeral service will be held on Saturday, July 26, 2014 at 10:00 am at the Central Baptist Church in Gainesville with Eddy Johnson officiating. A private family burial will follow Tuesday morning at the Dallas Fort Worth National Cemetery.

Johnnie is survived by his wife, Alice; brothers, Garland Sanford and Ronnie Sanford; 2 grandchildren, Reigan O'Quinn and Jason Faucett; 3 great grandchildren, Mysti O'Ouinn, Brittney O'Quinn, and Brock O'Quinn; and dear family friend, Karen Messersmith. He is preceded in death by his daughter, Peggy Faucett Arwood; sister, Deloris Dickson; brothers, Gerald and Robert Sanford; and his parents.