James Earl Anderson

“Live long and prosper.” – Mr. Spock 

In Loving Memory of James Earl Anderson 

May 30, 1948 – October 30, 2025 

Age 77 | Killeen, Texas 

James Earl Anderson, 77, of Killeen, Texas, passed away on October 30, 2025, surrounded by those who loved him most. Born on May 30, 1948, in Columbus, Mississippi, James was the son of Ola Mae Brown and Johnnie Howard. He was preceded in death by both of his parents, whom he loved dearly.James proudly served his country in the United States Army for over 20 years. As a member of the Army Signal Corps, he played a vital role in creating and managing crucial communication and information systems including serving as an air traffic controller for military aircraft operations. His leadership, dedication, and integrity inspired all who served alongside him.A lifelong learner, James earned his bachelor’s degree from Excelsior College, continuing to challenge himself intellectually long after his military retirement.During his lifetime, James was married to Hoy Chung Kim, with whom he shared 15 years of marriage and raised two daughters, Misha and Karin. He later married Lisa Sytnik and raised two stepdaughters, as his own, Amanda and Michelle. Lisa and James shared a lifelong partnership for nearly 30 years. They remained married at his time of passing. James was a man of deep curiosity, imagination, and humor. As a young man, he loved going on long runs, reading, writing, and building computers. He was passionate about all things related to science fiction and fantasy, especially Star Trek and The Lord of the Rings.He had a quirky love for his 1985 red Volkswagen Golf GTI, which he proudly customized with rims and a booming speaker system. He also loved gaming on his PlayStation and could talk for hours about technology, books, or military history.James was a gifted storyteller. On long road trips to Mississippi, he would delight his family with his lively retellings of Brer Rabbit, Brer Bear, and Brer Fox; complete with animated voices that had everyone laughing. He was also known to take his daughters out of school to catch epic three-hour movies at the cinema, turning ordinary days into unforgettable adventures.Above all, James was a compassionate and devoted father, a #GirlDad long before hashtags existed. Whether it was buying hair and skincare products, giving rides to and from events, or simply being there to listen, encourage, or offer advice, he showed up for his daughters in every way that mattered.James is survived by his beloved wife, Lisa Sytnik; his former wife, Hoy Chung Kim; his brothers, Marvin Brown and William Brown; his children, Misha Anderson, Karin Anderson, Amanda Chavez, and Michelle Mercado; his grandchildren, Desmond, Tiana, Isabella, Trinity, Novotny, Alaina, Sofia, and Elijah; and his great-granddaughter, Lanae.James will be remembered for his humor, intelligence, kindness, and his love of storytelling and adventure. He lived with purpose and imagination, a soldier, scholar, and dreamer whose presence left an indelible mark on everyone who knew him.His memory will live on in the stories he told, the laughter he sparked, and the love he shared with his family and friends.