Demeris Kay Anderson

She was born in Charleston, West Virginia and graduated from Dupont High School. She joined the United States Air Force in 1967. On December 17, 1967, she married the love of her life, Carl Anderson after knowing him only 30 days. They remained married for over 55 years. After serving in Texas and Indiana, she was Honorably Discharged from the Air Force in 1969 at Andersen AFB, Guam due to pregnancy. She not only dutifully served as an Air Force wife and mother, but also served as a Civil Service Secretary. She held a Top-Secret clearance and often handled classified documents at HQ Tactical Communications Division (AFCC) and the Logistics Branch at HQ Tactical Air Command. Demeris retired from Civil Service at Langley AFB, VA in 2003.

Demeris was easy to talk to and quickly made friends. She was an avid cook and loved to share cooking tips and recipes with anyone interested. She often set up elaborate Christmas displays where she worked and posed as the jolly old elf for many children. She said she had the best seat in the house because she not only talked with the children and saw their expressions but could also see the expressions of their parents at the same time. She and her husband opened Virginia Hydroponics selling hydroponic (soilless) gardening systems and organic garden supplies. She helped many people become successful gardeners and especially loved helping students with their gardening science projects. She mastered the paperwork involved in running a small business. She delighted in proving to government agencies that her documents were correct and timely and the accused errors were theirs. Demeris scrimped and saved in high school to purchase her own sewing machine and made many of her own unique clothes. She also spent many hours manipulating her crochet needle with great results.

Demeris was one of the first Lifetime Members of Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz Fan Club and Museum in Jamestown, NY. She visited Jamestown for an annual festival as well as helping celebrate the show’s 50th Anniversary in Burbank, CA. She collected numerous autographs and some significant Lucy memorabilia.

Demeris Anderson is survived by her husband, Carl Anderson; son, Robert Anderson; daughter, Diane Grigsby; brother, Timothy Kemp; two grandchildren, and her beloved Dachshunds, Becky Sue and Sandy Mae’. A public visitation will be held Saturday, April 15 at 1:30 PM at Parklawn-Wood Funeral Home, 2551 Armistead Ave, Hampton, VA 23666, a Celebration of Life will begin at 2:00 PM, followed by interment at Hampton Memorial Garden, in the Veterans Memorial section of the Cemetery at 155 Butler Farms Rd. Chapel services will be livestreamed, link to the livestream will be available the day of the services.

In lieu of flowers, please donate in her name to the no-kill, Animal Aid Society, 80 Butler Farm Rd., Hampton, VA 23666 or www.animalaidsociety.org.