Dates
Dawn Skiles Sanders, 61, of San Angelo, Texas finished her challenge on this earth Thursday, October 9, 2025, and is home with her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ reunited with loving family that have gone before her. A visitation will be held at 12:00 P.M., Saturday, November 1, 2025, at Harper Funeral Home with her Celebration of Life beginning at 1:00 P.M.
Dawn was born December 25, 1963, to Jim and Frieda Joyce Skiles, in Brady, Texas. Her father was in Vietnam, as a Sgt. 1st Class in the US Army. She was almost a year old before he would get to come home to see her in person and hold her for the first time. Then they were off to Italy for his last overseas tour. San Angelo became the family’s home after his retirement.
Dawn was a graduate of Central High School 1982 and of Angelo State University (ASU) 1986 and was recognized with the Cum Laude distinction. Her degree was in accounting and she was recruited while at ASU to go to work for the Unites States Internal Revenue Service. After training in Dallas she worked in the field offices in Midland and San Angelo for 15 years. She married Jim Sanders in 1985. They had one son James Austin Sanders. Dawn was a devoted mother and was a true “mom sports fan” throughout the years of Austin’s many sports games. She loved Austin very much and was so proud of him when he graduated from ASU. After her divorce in 2011 Dawn once again made San Angelo her home.
Dawn got her love for travel at an early age when her family moved to Italy. Some of her most favorite trips were with family to New York in the summer and winter, Martha’s Vineyard, Italy as an adult, and her 5 mission trips to Belize.
Dawn is preceded in death by her parents Jim and Joyce Skiles, special aunt and uncle Wilma and Billy Williams, and cousin Jon Bessent. She is survived by her sister Jamie Rainey and her husband Kerry of San Angelo, and sister Teresa Pina and husband Bert of Abilene. She is survived by her son James Austin Sanders and his wife Brittany of Cibolo, TX. She is also survived by her aunt and uncle Waunice and Ronnie Bessent, cousins Sheri York her friend Fred Buck, Kurt Williams and his wife Robin, Danica Bates, and Beau Bessent and his wife Maria. She is also survived by her good friend Dana Cmerek. There are many other loved cousins, nieces, nephews and prayer warriors from Immanuel Baptist Women’s Bible Study group and Facebook friends from around the world.
Jamie, Dawn’s sister and primary care giver, always said she was born to challenge doctors. Dawn had many serious illnesses throughout her life but was a true fighter and survivor. During the last 4 years of her life she had treatment for Multiple Myeloma and after undergoing multiple rounds of treatments had reached remission in April 2025. Unfortunately in June 2025 she was diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukemia. In her quest to help others she has left her body to the Medical Sciences Willed Body Program at Texas Tech University in Lubbock.
Her family would like to thank Dr. Van Rhee and his staff in Little Rock, ARK at the Multiple Myeloma Cancer Center, Dr. Yalamachili at the Joe Arrington Cancer Treatment Center in Lubbock, TX and Dr. David Cumming, his staff, and the great chemo nurses at Shannon Cancer Center in San Angelo for their continued care throughout her cancer journey. Our gratitude also goes out to the nurses and Mary, her CNA, of Hospice of San Angelo who helped make her comfortable when Dawn decided to spend her remaining time at home.
Memorials may be made to the Jon Bessent Memorial Scholarship Fund at 215 Ester Resa Rd, Lometa, TX 76853, the American Cancer Society, the Texas Tech Medical Sciences program, or a charity of your choice.
Family and friends may share their condolences and sign the online register book at
The family wishes to extend their gratitude for all the visits, prayers, phone calls, and text messages received during Dawn’s last few weeks at home.