Phyllis “Pete” (Miller) Anderson

1920 - 2013

Pete, 92, passed away October 11, 2013, in Spokane, WA, where she resided for only six months in a memory care facility. She was born in Massillon, OH, December 5, 1920, the youngest child of Edith Mae (Smith) and Carl Edward Miller. Pete, nicknamed after a favorite comic strip "Petey Dink" in the '20's, graduated from River Rouge HS, MI, in 1938, a time when only 50% of 18 year olds did so. Dating the love of her life from the time she was 15, Pete married Merle "Deacon" Anderson a few weeks after her 18th birthday on December 30, 1938, in Napoleon, OH. After Deacon's service in the Army during WWII, they settled in Claremont, CA, in 1947 with their two children where she resided until his passing in December 1998.
In addition to her husband of 60 years, she was preceded in death by her parents; step-mother, Mabel (McBride); brother, Carl O. Miller; and sister, Janet Rose. She is survived by her son, John (Terri Ensell) of Solana Beach, CA; daughter, Diane Crow (Sandy Roistacher) of Spokane, WA; grandson, Dean (Karen) Crow of Costa Mesa, CA; grandson, Evan Anderson of Solana Beach, CA; granddaughter, Kate Anderson of Livermore, CA; great-grandchildren, Brendan, Michael and Alexandra Crow of Costa Mesa, CA; brother-in-law, Ralph (Mary Smith) Anderson of Vista, CA; nieces, Sally Rose Durocher of Austin, TX, Terry Lou (Dana) McDaniel of Lakeside, CA, Donna (Lynn) Bautista of La Quinta, CA; nephews, Tom (Kathie) Rose of Celebration, FL, Jim Logan of Rancho Cucamonga, CA, Dick Logan of La Verne, CA, and Tom (Lynn) Anderson of Lake Forest, CA; and numerous nieces and nephews scattered around the country, descendants of her Anderson in-laws.
Pete was the quintessential wife, mother and homemaker in the era of the 1940's, '50's and '60's, keeping a warm and well managed home. She prepared excellent traditional American meals for the family and spiced up many a holiday meal with gourmet dishes. She served as a Girl Scout troop leader and a Cub Scout den leader. Pete had an artistic flair as well, starting with painted ceramic figures and decorative plates and graduating to oil paintings of landscapes and flowers. Pete also enjoyed a rich social life with the women's golf club, 30 years of monthly canasta parties and scores of backyard BBQ s. After Deacon's death in December 1998, she lived with John and Terri in Solana Beach, CA, with a great view of the Pacific Ocean. It was Terri who cared for her as Pete's dementia and osteoarthritis took their toll over the next 15 years.
Pete will be interred at Oak Park Cemetery, Claremont, CA, next to her mother and husband.