Michael Smith Anderson

Michael Smith Anderson, 86, passed away March 14, 2026, in Mesquite Nevada. He was born October 4, 1939, in San Bernardino, California, to Frank and Ruby Anderson.

Mike, as he was more commonly known, grew up in San Bernardino, but spent his summers in DeLand, Illinois, working on his grandfather‘s farm. He joined the Navy Reserves when he was a junior in high school, and graduated from Pacific High as Valedictorian. After school, he went on active duty for the Navy and served four years on a mine sweeper, the USS Gallant, one of the first ships deployed to the Vietnam area.

Following his honorable discharge from the Navy, he served a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the Far East Mission. He was assigned to Hong Kong teaching in the Cantonese language. His mission lasted three years. He married Carma Stanger in the Los Angeles Temple on November 27, 1965. (They just celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary.) They moved to Provo Utah, where he attended Brigham Young University.

Upon graduation, they moved to Panaca, Nevada, where he was a math teacher at Lincoln County High School for 36 years. He taught students that “Math is fun.” During his career, he also taught geology, electronics, and electricity (house wiring). He received his masters of mathematics from Northern Arizona University. When he started at Lincoln County High School, they needed someone to announce the football games. He announced football games and parades for the next 50 years where he coined the phrases “Tasting, tasting, yum, yum, yum, Welcome to beautiful downtown Panaca in the heart of Lincoln County, and Way to go Lynx!” He was known as “The Voice of the Lynx.” In 2005, the football field was named the Michael S. Anderson Field.

Mike’s real passion was serving the Lord. He had many callings including seventy, stake clerk (18 years), bishopric counselor, and head of the family history center. He served in the St. George Temple for 10 years and the Cedar City Temple for one year. His favorite calling by far was that of home teacher. He has been called the “best home teacher ever.”

He loved trains, dancing with his wife, and watching his kids and grandkids at sporting events, concerts, and recitals. He is survived by his wife, Carma Anderson; his children, David (Cathy) of Portland, Oregon, Karen of Mesquite, Nevada, Michael (Shauna) of Panaca, Nevada, Heather (Stephen) Walters of Mesquite, Nevada, Heidi (Darin) Anderson of Lehi, Utah, and Jonathan of Cedar City, Utah; 19 grandchildren and 34 great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents, Frank and Ruby Anderson and his siblings Richard and Scarlett Anderson.

Funeral services will be held in Panaca, Nevada, on March 21, 2026, at 12:00pm, with a viewing from 10:30 to 11:30am at the Panaca Stake Center. The internment will be at the Panaca Cemetery.