Anna R. Anderson

Anna passed away on November 10, 2020. She was born in Biloxi, Mississippi on November 26, 1932 the daughter of Annie and Willie Ross. Anna experienced a childhood reflective of the times. As children, Anna and her brother Walter would take 10 cents to buy milk and French bread for the family and then proceeded to eat the French Bread on the way home. She graduated high school at the tender age of 16 and went to Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College to become an Office Assistant. While working in the Red Cross office at Keesler Air Force Base, she met the love of her life Raymond (Andy) Anderson. The story is that Anna was supposed to go out with Ray’s friend, but he didn’t have a car, so Ray stepped in. Her brothers weren’t sure about that “Yankee” guy, but Ray cherished and loved his Northern Magnolia their whole lives. They were married on August 14, 1954 and settled in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Son Ross and Daughter Karen were born in 1956 and 1959. They later moved to Wyoming, Michigan (where Cory was born in 1966) then Saginaw, Michigan and then settled in Kalamazoo in 1974. Anna met her best friend Alice (John) Boyce while working at Steelcase in Grand Rapids. She was the Secretary in the Industrial Engineering Department at Western Michigan University for 17 years, where she “adopted” Montana kids Stephanie and Ted. She was a member of the United Methodist Church in Plainwell, Michigan. Anna loved ice cream very much and was a sure sight at Plainwell Ice Cream when they opened and closed every year. She never met a chocolate she didn’t like, loved the beach, hummingbirds and the colors lavender and red. One of her favorite pastimes was sitting in front of a big mess of boiled crabs and shrimp with her family, pickin’, eatin’ and storytellin’. Anna lived in “Sue - Ville” and was blessed to have such great neighbors: Pat & Sue Janssen, Denny & Sue Doyle and Steve & Sue Perkowski. Anna was preceded in death by her husband Ray in 2012 and by 3 brothers (Cecil, Sherman and Walter) and 1 sister (Rita). She is survived by her children: Ross (Betty) Anderson of Richmond, Virginia, Karen Anderson of Kalamazoo and Cory (Michelle) Anderson of Katy, Texas, 4 granddaughters: Susannah (Jack) Anderson-DePaulo, Audrey (Tahir) Anderson-Duckett, Rachel Anderson, Dana (Joel) Anderson-Sweetland, 2 great-grandsons: Innes and Malcolm, Sister-in-Law Helen Janell Ross (who was like a sister), special nieces Katherine Ross and Cindy Burt, Adopted Daughter Debbie Kowalik, Adopted Family Stephanie & Ted Robinson and Alex & Joy Robinson and many loved ones in Mississippi, Louisiana, Alabama and Texas. A private ceremony will be conducted with immediate family. Interment will be at the West Cooper Cemetery next to her beloved Andy in Cooper Township. A celebration of Anna’s life will be held in Summer 2021. A special thanks to her BC Care team. Especially: Julie, Sunny, Sierra, Cindy, Tracey, Becky and Alice. Contributions may be sent to Bronson Commons 23332 Red Arrow Highway, Mattawan MI 49071. While visiting Anna’s webpage at www.mccowensecord.com please sign the guestbook by lighting a candle, and/or sharing a memory with the family. The family is being assisted by the McCowen & Secord Funeral Home; Marshall & Gren Chapel, 120 S. Woodhams St. Plainwell, MI 49080 (269-685-5881).