E. Riley Anderson

E. Riley Anderson

Knoxville, TN

E. Riley Anderson, age 85, retired Chief Justice of Tennessee, died on July 4, 2018 after a long fight with cancer. Riley was born in Chattanooga but came to Knoxville as a child. He graduated from Central High School and received his Bachelor's and Law degree from the University of Tennessee. He practiced Law in Oak Ridge with the firm Joyce, Anderson, and Meredith from 1958-1987 when he was appointed to the Tennessee Supreme Court in 1990 and was elected Chief Justice in 1994 and served in that capacity five times until he retired.

He was the past President of many legal organizations including: Hamilton Burnett American Inn of Court, TN Chapter, American Board of Trial Advocates, Tennessee Defense Lawyers. He was proud of his work with Racial/Gender Fairness Commission and the SCALES Project which brought the courtroom into schools. Riley was also active in many civic organizations: the boards of East Tennessee Foundation, The Boys Club in Oak Ridge, and Home Federal Bank.

Riley loved to read historical and political biographies, he loved the water and "messing about in boats". Basketball was his early passion followed later by golf, squash, and tennis.

He was predeceased by his mother, Mary Catherine Tillery Anderson, his brother Joe Anderson and a child Riley Anderson Jr.

He is survived by his wife Pandy; his children Colin Anderson, Karin Anderson, Scott Anderson (Teresa), and Blake Anderson (Laura); step-children, Sarah Woods, Tim Preston and Emma Woodworth; and grandchildren, Brooke, Braden, Bailey, and Ella Anderson, Sean Barrett, Henry and James Woods, Hannah and Brendan Woodworth, and Scott Wheeler.

Family will receive friends 1:30-2:30 on Saturday, July 14 at Click Funeral Home Farragut Chapel with Celebration of Life service to immediately follow. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Tennessee Justice Center www.tnjustice.org

Click Funeral Home Farragut Chapel 11915 Kingston Pike is serving the Anderson family. www.clickhfh.com