John Ross Anderson

John Ross Anderson, 85, passed away July 9, 2025. He was born January 5, 1940, in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma to Francis Ross Anderson and Elsie Ann (Mollman) Anderson.
John met the love of his life in high school, JoLene Marie (Lowman), while attending St. Gregory's in Shawnee, Oklahoma. They married on November 11, 1960, in Oklahoma City. John was a devoted husband and father who cared for his beloved wife of 64 years until her departure to glory. Together, they dedicated their lives to raising three sons.
After attending the University of Oklahoma from 1958-1964, majoring in Mechanical Engineering, John worked 15 years as a civil servant at Tinker Air Force Base quickly climbing the ranks from washing aircraft as a WG5, to a Program Analyst planning top secret programs, missions and logistical support to Worldwide Air Force Bases as a GS11. In 1981, he left to pursue his dream of developing a self-supporting automotive small business for his 3 teenaged sons, J's Enterprises. John and his family built their dream home on 5 acres near Lake Eufaula where they lived for 45 years, generously helping any neighbors who needed a hand. He continued his civil service as a rural mail carrier in his custom orange mail buggy for 18 years until he retired in 2000. In early 2024, they moved to Guthrie to be near their children.
John's hobbies included auto racing, hunting, and fishing. He was an avid outdoorsman, an Eagle Scout, Boy Scout Leader, Little League Coach, and known as Mr. Consistent at Outlaw Motor Speedway, finishing in the top ten points every year since the track opened until he was 72. He enjoyed working on cars, building custom Chevy and racing engines, hunting with his son and grandson, fishing with his girls, baking a giant cookie for his grandkids, and painting all things orange.
He was preceded in death by his parents and cherished wife.
He is survived by his three sons, John and his wife Shelly of Idaho, Jeff and his wife Heather of Mississippi, and James and his wife Susie of Guthrie; six grandchildren, Joe, Mike, Mindy, Jaden, Raleigh, and Wilhemena, and one great-granddaughter, Amelia.
John's Memorial Service will be held at 10:00 A.M., Friday, July 18, 2025, at Summit View Cemetery. Services are under the direction of Smith-Gallo Funeral Home, 220 North 1st Street, Guthrie, Oklahoma 73044. He will be laid to rest with his wife in Summit View Cemetery in Guthrie, Oklahoma.
There will be no visitation.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the NRA, National Rifle Association.
Friends may sign the online guestbook at www.smithgallo.com
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