Phillip Sonny Sandel, III

On Sunday, May 22, 2011, Phillip Laurie "Sonny" Sandel, III passed away at Cypress Glen Nursing Home in Port Arthur at the age of 83. Sonny was an extraordinary person who never complained, never had an enemy, had a great sense of humor and was a Christian in every respect. Born a victim of severe cerebral palsy, nonetheless, he attended Hughen School in Port Arthur and graduated from Thomas Jefferson High School. Even though he could not speak clearly, he communicated by the use of a typewriter keyboard in a way that enabled him to demonstrate what the mind of a physically disabled person can achieve. Sonny's incredible existence was facilitated by his own love of life together with the devotion of his parents, Monique Phillip Laurie Sandel, II and his aunt, Pauline Bird. Moreover, a very special group of persons who assisted in his care over the years consisted of Claudie Arceneaux (his number one caretaker lady and dearest friend), her husband, Oliver Arceneaux, Sylvania "Bonnie" Johnson, Virginia Chavis and Chris Thierry. His best childhood friends, Anita Higginbotham of Groves, Texas and Dolores Bruce of Little Rock, Arkansas survived him as did his cousins, Pat and Leon Sandel and Missy and Gerald Sinacher. Sonny was a member of the Wesley Bible class at the United Methodist Temple in Port Arthur and his chief shepherd from that class was Alice Clark. The staffs of Odyssey Health Care and Cypress Glen Nursing Home are commended on the manner in which they helped to provide for Sonny in his later years. On Wednesday, May 25, 2011, the Dr. Jesse M. Brannen, Jr. will conduct services for Phillip Laurie Sandel, III at the United Methodist Temple in Port Arthur at 11:00 a.m. with visitation to take place between 9:00 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. and entombment to follow at Greenlawn Memorial Park Mausoleum in Port Arthur.