Obit of Anderson, Merrill E. "Andy" - Woodward County, Oklahoma Submitted by: Gene Phillips 14 Dec 2008 Return to Woodward County Archives: http://www.usgwarchives.net/ok/woodward/woodward.htm ===================================================================== USGENWEB NOTICE Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm ===================================================================== ::Idaho State Veteranīs Cemetery--Boise ID Anderson, Merrill E. "Andy" Jan. 7, 1923 Ð Jan. 19, 2007 Merrill E. "Andy" Anderson passed away at the Idaho State Veteranīs Home on Jan. 19, 2007. Cremation has been under the direction of Aclesa Cremation and Tribute Center. Inurnment will be at the Idaho State Veteranīs Cemetary Columbarium. A memorial service will be held at Trinity Fellowship Church, 300 N. Latah, Boise, Idaho, on Friday, Feb. 9, 2007 at 3 p.m. Merrill "Andy" was born to Robert A. and Elsie M. (Blackwell) Anderson at Prairie View, Kan. on Jan. 7 1923. The son of a Methodist preacher and circuit rider, the Anderson family lived in numerous parts of Kansas and Oklahoma. He graduated from Woodward High School, Woodward, Okla., in 1941. Andy had a full-ride football scholarship to the University of Oklahoma. He completed one year of college in pre-engineering but chose to leave college in 1942 to enlist in the Army Air Corps. He became a P-47 "Thunderbolt" pilot and was assigned to the 9th Army Air Corps, 23rd Squadron, 36th Fighter Group, where he reached the rank of 1st Lieutenant. His service took him to the European Theater of Operations where he was involved in over 50 combat missions including the Battle of the Bulge. He was shot down several times, sometimes over enemy territory, but always managed to evade capture and make it back to his unit. His decorations included the Air Medal with Seven Oak Leaf Clusters, Distinguished Flying Cross, Distinguished Unit Badge, European Theater Ribbon with three Bronze Service Stars, Belgian Fouregere, and the Good Conduct Metal. Andy served until Nov. 11, 1945. He met the love of his life, Florence Marie Scott ("Scottye"), through his sister Roberta while in high school. Andy and Scottye started dating while he was on leave from flight training. All of his planes carried the name "Scottye." They were married on Aug. 4, 1946, in Woodward at the Baptist Church. The wedding was performed by his father, the Reverend Robert A. Anderson. To say that Andy loved Scottye would be an understatement; she was the light of his life and he adored her. After returning from the war he re-entered the University of Oklahoma where he completed his B.S. in Architectural and Mechanical Engineering in 1948. He had a distinguished career as an aerospace engineer with Aerojet General Corporation that included U.S. space program projects during the 1950s and '60s with Werner Von Braun in Huntsville, Ala., and Cape Canaveral, Fla. During his career he also worked for Lowell Gas Company, Tewksbury, Mass. where he worked on the first Liquid Natural Gas facility in the U.S., and Daniels Construction in Greenville, NC. He retired from Logan Aluminum in Russellville, Ky., in 1986 where he had designed, constructed and managed the water and wastewater facilities for Alcoa Aluminum. Andy and Scottye designed and built their dream home in Tullahoma, Tenn. in 1955, but lived there only two years before moving to Huntsville. In the 1960s they built another home in Huntsville, again to live in it for only two years before moving to California. Andy was a committed husband and father, a peacemaker, a patriot, and a true hero. Even though he worked hard and his career often took him away from his family, he still found time to coach his sonsī sports teams and teach Sunday School. He was an avid golfer, and enjoyed hanging out with his friends at the country club. He was proud of his military service and participated in numerous reunions. Andy and Scottye moved to Boise from Russellville, in December 2005 in order to be closer to their sons and families. After almost 60 years of marriage, Florence preceded him death in March, 2006. Andy was also preceded in death by his parents, Robert and Elsie Anderson. He is survived by his brother, Paul of Torrance, Calif.; his sister, Roberta of Manassas, Va.; sons Hal N. (Diane) Anderson and Merrill Brian (Dawn) Anderson, both of Boise. He is also survived by five grandchildren and their families: Amber Anderson of Chicago, IL; Cpt. Robert "Buck" (Kristen) Anderson, Ft. Hood, Tex. and children Elizabeth, Wyatt and Cody; Kara (Quinn) Palone and son Maxxwell of Boise; Chelsea Anderson, and Ethan Anderson of Boise. The family would like to thank the staff at Willow Park Assisted Living, and the Idaho State Veteranīs Home, and Dr. Robert Smith for their compassionate care during this past year. Published in the Idaho Statesman on 2/4/2007. --------------------------------------------------------------------- Return to Woodward County Archives: http://www.usgwarchives.net/ok/woodward/woodward.html