James Howard Anderson

In the cold, dark hours of the morning of December 30 a bright light went out. Jimmy Anderson was welcomed back home by his Lord and Savior. For 88 years James Howard Anderson lived a long, bountiful and giving life. Jimmy was a man who gave.

No one could not like Jimmy Anderson. His smile, his humor, his giving spirit lit up his world. He will long be remembered. He will be missed. For more than 46 years his wife Martha 'Bebe' Anderson shared his love and his joy for life and his love of God and the Holy Catholic church. They were happy to share their personal love with all who surrounded them. As a couple they lit up the rooms they entered. Jimmy and Bebe were a magnet for people who wanted to enjoy life. His son James Hunt Anderson and grandson Jason Anderson will miss his humor and the unconditional love of their devoted father. Jimmy was born in Fort Worth, Texas to Auldean and John. Auldean brought him up to be a proud Texan and an even prouder American.

He entered the US Navy during WWII as a SeaBee (USN Construction Battalion) and Jimmy spent the rest of his life helping people construct their belief in God and the Catholic church. After his discharge Jimmy entered the burgeoning world of medical supplies and acted as a manufacture's representative for close to 60 years. After retirement he joined PV Car Rental where he spent close to 10 years doing a little of everything. Jimmy willingly gave time and energy to help others through his membership in the Serra Club and the Knights of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem. He was a volunteer lay chaplain in the Harris County Prison system. He attended Mass every day to reaffirm his devotion to God and a Christian life. He volunteered to be a member of The Brisket Cases, a charitable group that cooked their way into The Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo World Championship Bar-B-Que Championship. An annual weekend devoted to cooking, eating, drinking, raising scholarship money and having fun .. Texas Style. As a salesman his feet were never still. He and Bebe circled the globe touring countries in Europe, Asia and the Middle East gathering memories and funny anecdotes. Along with his love for Bebe and his extended family his life's passion was for things military. His collection of 19th century Napoleonic lead soldiers is legendary as was his in depth knowledge of all things military from 19th century military livery to the troop movements in famous battles. Jimmy turned their cozy apartment into a mini-museum with his collection and the souvenirs of the their world wide adventures Jimmy was simply fun to be around. While being very well read he was known for his charming malapropos. No one could mangle a trite phrase better than Jimmy. It was another way he brought a smile of love and affection from all around him. On a long evening when good wine might have had a mild effect on his eye sight his reflected image in a hotel bar mirror assured him he was the spitting image of Tyrone Power, a Hollywood star who was always surrounded by female fans. He was sure the female stranger on the bar stool next to him was enamored with the movie star look alike who sat to her right. Filled with his wine generated bravado Jimmy reached for her knee expecting a warm welcoming smile. In a moment her heavy weight boyfriend, who was not convinced Jimmy was a twin to Tyrone Power, threatened to rearrange Jimmy's facial features so he would look more like Frankenstein than matinee idol Tyrone Power. Only Jimmy could talk his way out of a situation like that.

Jimmy's life was at the center of a circle of good friends, holding a glass of good wine and leading conversation filled with laughter. As Jimmy told it, he and a good friend made a poor man's trip to Nuevo Laredo. Not able to afford a hotel room they choose to sleep in the car. In the sticky heat of a Rio Grande summer night they rolled down the car windows and the 'friend' stuck his feet out of the back seat window. The next morning he awoke without his expensive alligator shoes. That was Jimmy's story and while he stuck to it everyone knew it was Jimmy who had lost the shoes. Fun things happened to Jimmy.

But his love of God was serious. Before a fork was lifted it was assumed Jimmy would give grace for the coming meal and ask for the Lord to bless all. His daily prayers were filled with thoughts of those in need; family, friends and those he had never even met. Jimmy was one of the good guys and he has left us with fun memories of his happy life. We are all better for having known him.