In loving memory

Maclin James Sanders

“Mack”
November 16, 2011 – December 10, 2024

Our witty, fun-loving son and little brother. He sought everyone’s laughter — and found it, every time.

Maclin ‘Mack’ Sanders smiling in a sun hat
A letter from Mack’s family

Our baby boy

These are the words we shared to remember him.

Maclin, our baby boy, little brother, our witty, fun-loving son has left a huge hole in our hearts that can never be repaired or replaced. His wry smile when he knew he was on the edge of trouble will not be forgotten.

He was the perfect mixture of his grandfathers — his wit from his Grandpa and his sense of humor from his Pops. He always wanted to please and sought everyone’s laughter.

There are so many things we’ll miss: his “old man wrinks,” as his mom lovingly referred to his wrinkles, his pretty blue eyes and thin blonde hair.

Without a doubt, Mack’s favorite thing to do was to hang out with his cousins and friends. Whether that was playing sports, fishing, swimming, going to Altitude, or the second night of sleepovers on the same weekend — he was happy if he was with his friends. He loved playing sports: baseball in his younger years, and most recently football, where he made many great friendships. He was our solo kid traveler, jumped at every opportunity for a trip, and had a passion for travel and good food.

Mack was always seeking his brother’s attention and approval, and while they fought like dogs at times, there was no doubt of the love shared. He never missed a chance to say “I love you” getting out of the car at school drop-off, or “thank you” for cooking or ordering dinner.

He was able to understand and react to people’s feelings from a very early age. His wit and humor resonated with everyone — young and old. His love of The Office and Parks & Recreation at a young age, while probably not entirely age-appropriate, was formative for him. He never could understand why his friends at school didn’t get the MouseRat T-shirt he wore.

While Mack is no longer with us, his spirit will forever live on in our memories. The support from family, friends, and the Creekside community has been nothing short of overwhelming and so welcomed. Thank you for sharing your support and your memories of Mack.

— With all our love, Mack’s family

Celebrating his life

Remembering Mack

A tribute to Mack’s life, shared by those who loved him.

The stories we keep telling

Memories that make us smile

Mack’s humor left a mark on everyone he met. A few of the classics:

Coach Billy’s pitch

One hit-by-pitch during coach’s pitch earned Coach Billy years of never-relenting reminders. Mack didn’t forget. He made sure Coach Billy didn’t either.

Buzzkill Brian

On one infamous family vacation game night, a young Mack coined the nickname “Buzzkill Brian” for a family friend who wouldn’t play the game of his choice. It stuck. Forever.

Trip-shaming Coach Bowman

When Coach Bowman took a trip during football season, Mack made sure social media knew about it. Accountability starts at the top, Coach.

The MouseRat shirt

Mack proudly wore his MouseRat T-shirt to school — a tribute to Parks & Rec — and genuinely couldn’t understand why his classmates didn’t get the reference.

Farm League days

Years of Farm League baseball with Coach Josh gave Mack — and all of us — so many of our fondest memories and friendships.

Every single drop-off

He never missed a chance to say “I love you” getting out of the car at school, or a “thank you” for dinner. That was Mack.

His legacy

The Maclin Sanders Memorial Scholarship

To honor Mack’s spirit — his humor, his kindness, and the way he brought people together — his family has established a scholarship in his name. The scholarship will be awarded each year from 2027 through 2031, spanning the graduating classes Mack grew up alongside — including the Class of Mack’s own classmates and friends.

Award
$5,000
Awarded
Annually, 2027–2031
Eligibility
Tomball High School graduating seniors
Deadline
March 15, annually

What we look for: Mack never walked into a room without trying to make it a happier one. He led with humor, noticed how people were feeling before they said a word, and was fiercely loyal to his friends, his teammates, and his family. This scholarship recognizes a Tomball High School senior who carries those same qualities — someone who lifts up the people around them, who leads with heart and a sense of humor, and who makes their school and community brighter simply by being in it. Grades matter less to us than character: we’re looking for the kind of person Mack was, and the kind of friend he’d have wanted to sit next to.

Apply for the scholarship

A place to visit

Mack’s memorial bench

A bench has been placed in Mack’s memory. If you’d like to sit for a while, remember him, or just say hello — you are always welcome.

Get directions to Mack’s bench
Help us remember

Share a memory of Mack

A story, a photo, something he said that still makes you laugh — we are collecting them all, and we treasure every one.

A photo of Mack, or of a moment you shared with him. JPG, PNG, or HEIC.