Sally Anderson

Sally Anderson was born on June 23, 1940 in Austin, Texas to William Deans and Agatha Copenhaver Anderson and passed away April 11, 2014 at her home with her children around her. A native Austinite, she attended Brykerwoods Elementary, O' Henry Junior High, and Austin High School (where she was a National Merit Scholar) before attending The University of Texas at Austin as a Plan Two Honors major. She later received a Master's Degree in Urban Planning from the University of Texas at Arlington.

Sally worked for over 25 years for Texas Mental Health/Mental Retardation in a number of capacities and retired in 2004. A woman of profound intellect, she motivated those around her to higher ideals and the means to serve their community in the most effective and positive ways.

She carried her parent's lifelong passion for birds (and native Texas flora and fauna) and made many trips to Rockport to enjoy the annual migrations through the Gulf Coast region. Her knowledge of history, politics and world affairs was vast and she never stopped being interested in learning more about the world around her.

Her greatest passion was her children and grandchildren, who mourn her untimely passing but celebrate the life she lived. Preceded in death by her parents, she is survived by her son James Donley Gardner III, daughter Alyson Anderson Stumpf and husband Lance Stumpf, and her daughter Sara Gardner Farris.

Her grandchildren are Donley's daughter Sydney Marie Armes (husband Philip Armes), Alyson and Lance's children Nicole Stumpf Malone (husband Robert Malone; children Peyton and Hudson), Taylor Alexander, (Natasha Braddock and daughter Amerie), Holly Stumpf Cincunegui (husband Mikel Cincunegui), Alana Jane Alexander, Addison Avila, and Sara's son Robbie Farris.

She battled MDS/MPD for a year and half with grace and courage, and her family owes an immense debt of gratitude to all of the people who helped her along the way: Dr. Jerry Fain and the staff of Texas Oncology, who became like a second family and handled her health with kindness and compassion at every turn, Dr. Guillermo Garcia-Manero and the Leukemia/MDS/MPD team at M.D. Anderson for their commitment to research and the fight for a cure for all forms of blood and bone marrow cancers, and finally Interim Health Care and Hospice who walked with us in dignity and love as she reached the end of her battle. Thanks also to family friend Jane Dryden Louis, whose wisdom and guidance has always been immeasurable, and who will help us celebrate Sally's life at a memorial service on April 19th at 2pm at Weed-Corley-Fish North Lamar Chapel.

In lieu of flowers we ask that anyone interested please donate in Sally's name to any of the organizations that we have listed above or a charity of their choice. And in keeping with Sally's exuberant love of all things bright and beautiful, you are invited to wear your Easter finest (especially pink, as that was her favorite color).