Mary Elizabeth Anderson

Mary Elizabeth Anderson, 99, of Scottsdale, AZ., beloved mother, grandmother and great grandmother, passed away peacefully at home on April 13, 2025. She was born on July 25th, 1925, in the family home in Metamora, IL. to George and Ruth Martin. She was the second of eight children. As a baby, her family moved into the farmhouse on the family farm in Eureka, IL. where she lived until she graduated from Eureka High School in 1942. After graduation she took a position as claims adjuster for Illinois Mutual Casualty Co. in Peoria, IL. Years later she returned to Eureka to take the position as the secretary to the President of Eureka College. It was there she met a student named Jim Anderson. They fell in love, got married and had five children together. In 1960 they moved the family to Scottsdale where they opened the first coin operated laundry and car wash in the state. In 1965 she went to work for Motorola. She started there working on the assembly line from 11 PM to 7 AM so she could get home to get her five kids off to school. After several years she worked her way up to be the secretary to the Vice President. After retiring in 1985, she spent the next 18 years volunteering for the Scottsdale Center for the Arts and the Stagebrush Theatre. Her love of sewing enabled her to start a business making children's cloth story books. She hand made over 5000 of these books and sold them at various venues across the valley. She was preceded in death by her parents; three brothers, Melvin, Roland and William; three sisters, Verna, Esther and Marge; Her son Richard and Daughter Nancy (Greg): and grandson Jason. She is survived by her brother Roger of Peoria IL.: Her children Michael (Percy) and Tom (Tina) of Scottsdale, and Susan of New York: Four grandsons, Justin (Ashley) of Cerritos Mexico, Christopher of Mesa, Dustin and Tyler (Heather) of Scottsdale: Four great grandsons, Ethan of Mesa: Oskar and Aksel of Cerritas Mexico; Teddy of Scottsdale and Granddaughter Olive of Scottsdale.

There will be a private celebration of life for family and friends.

In lieu of flowers, the family encourages loved ones to leave a special story or memory of Mary on this memorial page.