Errol Lee Anderson passed away peacefully at his home on Deep Creek Road, Wednesday May 6, 2015, surrounded by his family.
Errol was born in Chehalis, Washington on May 18, 1937 to the late A.T. and Minnie Anderson. He lived out his childhood at his parent’s farm on Deep Creek Road in Adna, Washington along with his four siblings; Jack, Jane, Joe and Hap and attended Adna Schools. On Aug. 2, 1953 Errol married his high school sweetheart and love of his life Sharon Deeds.
At the age of 16, Errol followed in his father’s footsteps and boarded a St. Regis train to a logging camp in Morton, Washington, where he began work on the rigging crew. He then went to work for Schafer Brothers at Camp Grisdale. Later, accompanied by his wife and expecting their first child he set out to find work closer to home and on flatter ground. Errol met with Schafer Brother’s Side Rod/Bull Buck at a logging site near Rainbow Falls and soon after began work there.
After a strike shut down Schafer Brother’s mill and woods operations, Errol took a job as a timber faller for Agnew Lumber in Mineral, Washington. Soon Errol made a name for himself as a timber faller and partnered with his cousin Don Anderson as contract timber fallers. During Errol’s career he worked with many local logging companies including John Thompson Logging, Olsen Brothers and Moerke & Sons. One thing he was proud of was having the opportunity to work alongside Don Anderson, Joe Anderson, Ed Anderson, Joe Paulin, Les Gallows and many other great loggers.
Errol finished his working years at the Centralia Coal Mine, where again he felt lucky to have known and worked with many great men.
Living on Deep Creek, Errol and Sharon raised their four children, Mary Jo, Jim, Sheryl and Geri on the family farm. In 1983, they began raising salmon to release in local creeks. After Sharon’s death in 1989 Errol continued this, earning him a Department of Fish and Wildlife Washington State Conservation Award and a Conservation Hero Award in the May 2015 Field & Stream Magazine. Over the last 32 years more than three million salmon have been released in local creeks.
Errol later married Goldie Marie his wife and companion of 22 years. Goldie’s caretaking and sense of humor was a blessing. During retirement Errol enjoyed his time with family and friends. He soon became known as “The Mayor of Deep Creek” spending his time on his four wheeler visiting and helping family and neighbors.
Errol will always be known as a kind, patient man, a great father, a teacher, hard worker and friend.
“Let’s Get Busy”
In lieu of flowers and gifts, the family asks that donations be made to the A.T and Minnie Anderson Memorial for Adna Scholarships at any Twin Star Credit Union.
There will be a celebration of life at the Adna High School on June 13, 2015 at 2:00 p.m. A pie social provided by the family to follow.
Errol was preceded in death by his parents, A.T. and Minnie Anderson; wife, Sharon Anderson; siblings,
Jane Hartvigsen, Jack Anderson and Hap Anderson; and infant grandson, Allen Lee Anderson.
Survivors include his wife, Goldie Marie Anderson; brother, Joe (Rometta) Anderson; four children,
Mary Jo (Ron) Bieker, Jim (Kathy) Anderson, Sheryl Anderson and Geri (Mark) Griffith;
seven grandchildren, Jay (Amy) Bieker, Arron Anderson, Rochelle Thomas, Sarah (Patrick) Johnson,
Zach (Lindsey) Pilz, Shawnell Pilz and Chelsie (Zach) Berg;and 13 great-grandchildren, Evie,
Errol and Braden Thomas; Augustus and Amelia Anderson; Kasen Berg; Lane and Taylor Johnson;
Timothy, Hayden and Aaron Pilz; Khole and Kole Kreischer.
