Phyllis Ann Anderson

TRAVERSE CITY — Phyllis Ann Anderson, 95, of Traverse City, died Friday morning, Sept. 26, 2008, at Munson Hospice House, with her family by her side.

Born Nov. 13, 1912, in Detroit, Phyllis was the eldest of four children of Peter and Rose (Gallagher) Beet. From the age of 10 on (after her mother's death), she was raised in St. Christopher's Orphanage in Dobb's Ferry, N.Y. At the age of 18, she attended Miss Beard's School in Orange, N.J., and then went on to graduate from Allegheny College in Meadville, Pa., where she was a member of Delta Zeta Sorority.

While in college she met the love of her life, Donald Carl Anderson. They were married on March 23, 1935, and eventually settled in Dearborn, where they lived until moving to Traverse City in 1972. Donald died in 1976.

Phyllis was a schoolteacher in Dearborn for 12 years until her retirement in 1971. In the Traverse area, she served on the Zoning Board of Appeals, Board of Canvassers, Grand Traverse Commission on Aging, Grand Traverse Mental Health Board and the Board of Tax Review. A former member of the AAUW, she was long active in the Republican Party.

Phyllis was an avid reader with an indomitable spirit whose great passion in life was people. Endlessly curious, gracious and tolerant, her ready smile and willingness to listen made her a good friend to many.

She is survived by her son and daughter-in-law, Peter and Melody Anderson of Vancouver; nephews, Peter (and Fay) Ogilvie of Hawaii and Don (and Debbie) Bendix of Florida; three grand-nephews; one grand-niece; two great-grand-nieces; and one great-grand-nephew; as well as many wonderful friends and care-givers.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Donald; her brother, Peter; and sisters, Rosemary Webb of Traverse City and Alice Wallace of Kalamazoo.

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, Oct. 4, 2008, at 2 p.m., at the Reynolds-Jonkhoff Funeral Home. Nancy Doughty will officiate. Cremation has taken place.

In remembrance of Phyllis, memorials may be directed to the Grand Traverse County Commission on Aging Endowment Fund, 250 E. Front Street, Ste. 310, Traverse City, MI 49684.

The family is being served by the Reynolds-Jonkhoff Funeral Home; www.reynolds-jonkhoff.com.

This obituary was originally published in the Record-Eagle.