In Memoriam: Anthony Allen Anderson (September 22, 1949 - April 14, 2021)

Описание: Anthony Allen Anderson (Tony) came into this world on September 22, 1949 to apparently shake things up! 71 years later, he passed away peacefully in his home in April 2021 after a wild ride he called "Life."

The third of four boys, he enjoyed all the typical boy things, from tormenting his brothers to setting the curtains on fire in their childhood home. Luckily for him, his homemaker mother, Kay, and sculptor father, Ande, never ditched his wild rear in the middle of the desert. At a young age, the entrepreneur bug bit him, and he got his first job pulling dandelions and eventually settled into a pizza joint. While the paychecks were nice, he really loved the unlimited pizza and beer. His younger days were also spent painting and sketching, selling flowers, attending concerts, and doing things we won't talk about with his brother's band (shhh).

By his 30s, he'd obtained his liberal arts degree at Phoenix College, and Anthony's hippie ways took him to Las Vegas, Nevada, where he would marry his first wife and become a father to his oldest daughter, Alexandrea Shayne. Settling down inspired a new career path as an Al Bundy in shoe sales. He enjoyed driving NASCAR style with his lead foot down to Phoenix to see the family, up to San Francisco for the "Toilet Bowl," and to Disneyland with his daughter and niece post divorce. He was the epitome of the crazy-fun uncle.

Several years later, Anthony's midlife crisis consisted of a young new wife and two more daughters, Kelsey Raine and Skylar Bleu. He taught his girls how to blare the TV until the walls shook, what rock music should sound like, how to rig cars, wrap gifts in newspaper, and tried to induct them into the Polar Bear Club, but swimming in January just wasn't their thing. He enjoyed long lectures about ambition, growing plants (no, not that kind), and painting carpets and couches with red wine. His fashion sense of plaid shirts and floral ties was unmatched. Literally. He really was a true artist!

Car projects, collections of all kinds, his dogs, the lake, great music, and art were his passions, so long as they didn't cost money. Creativity and artistry undoubtedly run in the genes, and he created art out of bizarre items and canvases. He was a brilliant mechanic, so hopefully, he taught his wife and daughters well because there's no one to save their stranded butts now. Though, if he could fix it or help it with WD-40, silicone, or a tampon, he most certainly did.

While working primarily in management or self-employed, his life long dream was to have Publisher's Clearing House knock on the door. They never did, but he still died a rich man. He leaves behind family that couldn't have loved his goofy, unconventional, funny self any more, who supported him and made him especially proud to be an Anderson.

Anthony is preceded in death by his loving parents Kathryn Joan (Neubauer) Anderson and Clarence Junior Anderson. He is survived by his wife and friend, Kristen Schill Anderson, their daughters Kelsey Anderson and Skylar Anderson, daughter Alexandrea Anderson Wagley (Ross Wagley), grandsons Teagan Wagley, Luca Wagley, brothers Mitch Anderson (Barb Seaton), Rick Anderson (Marina Anderson), Gregg Anderson (Cathey Anderson), nieces and nephews Brian Nelson, Kimberly Anderson Duru (Obi Duru), Mark Anderson (Carly Schorman Anderson), and Marina Mignon Anderson. He is also survived by a multitude of aunts, uncles, cousins, and friends who loved him and only sometimes wanted to push him out of a moving car.

You're loved and missed, Ant'ny, but as always, we'll "Talk to Ya Later."