Mr. Tony Lamone Anderson

Tony Lamone Anderson—known to many as “Karate Tony”—was born on

April 18, 1961, to Dorothy Lee Anderson and Eugene Franklin in Jacksonville,

Texas. He later moved with his family to Fort Worth, Texas, where he was

educated in the Fort Worth Public School System and graduated from Kirkpatrick

High School in 1979. During his school years, Tony brought both strength and

determination to everything he did—making his mark on the wrestling team with a

presence that teammates and competitors alike remembered.

Tony’s life was shaped by passion, discipline, and a deep sense of protection

for others. A dedicated martial artist, he achieved the rank of fifth-degree black

belt. Yet what mattered most to him was not recognition, but the opportunity to

teach. He spent countless hours helping others—especially children—learn how to

defend themselves. Young people were naturally drawn to him, sensing both his

strength and his kindness. Tony believed in standing up for those who could not

stand up for themselves, and he lived that belief through his actions.

Tony was also a man of creativity and joy. He loved to dance and sing,

bringing lightness and laughter wherever he went. His greatest artistic passion,

however, was his visual art. He had a remarkable gift for painting and drawing,

often creating beautiful works inspired by African art. His pieces were featured in

shows in both Fort Worth and Jacksonville, reflecting both his talent and his

dedication to his craft.

He embraced life fully and found happiness in movement and connection—

running, swimming, working out, playing basketball, shooting pool, and gathering

around a table for dominoes. He especially loved Galveston Beach, where he could

relax and take in the beauty of the water. Above all, Tony cherished time spent with

family and friends, building memories through laughter, conversation, and shared

experiences.

As the eldest of six children, Tony carried a strong sense of responsibility for

his siblings. He looked after them with care and protectiveness, a role he held close

throughout his life. He formed deep and lasting bonds with his nieces and

nephews, who knew him as both a source of strength and a steady presence—

especially Matt, Rodney, Trevor, Preston, KC, Logan and Tyler who shared a particularly

close connection with him. He also shared a uniquely close bond with his sister,

Paula. The two spoke every day, a constant in each other’s lives, and she lovingly

called him “Old Goat”—a nickname that not only spoke to his stubbornness and

authority as the eldest, but that also carried years of laughter, familiarity, and deep

sibling love.

Tony was the father of Latisha Daft, Alonzo Perkins, and Roderick

Anderson, and stepfather to Audrey and Shay Shay Sullivan. He was also a

grandfather to six grandchildren, holding a special place in his heart for his

grandsons Ashton and Layton, who brought him great joy.

He leaves behind to cherish his memory his loving mother, Dorothy Nobles;

his brothers, Dan Nobles (Arlene) and Rodney Nobles (Denice); his sisters, Paula

Dixon (Antonio), Nachelle Embers, and Pamela Nobles; along with a host of

nieces, nephews, extended family, and dear friends whose lives he touched.

Tony Lamone Anderson lived with strength, creativity, and a generous spirit.

He was a protector at heart, a teacher in action, and an artist in soul. He moved

through this world with purpose—lifting others, guiding the young, and leaving

behind traces of beauty in both canvas and memory. Though he may be gone from

our sight, his presence lingers—in the lessons he passed on, in the lives he helped

shape, and in the love he gave so freely. And in that enduring legacy, in the quiet

strength he shared with the world, he will always be remembered not as “The

Karate Man” or “Karate Tony” but as something even greater—a true Karate

Master, whose spirit continues to stand watch, protect, and inspire