Carol Dean Anderson

Long-time Walla Walla resident, Carol Dean Anderson, died of cancer on May 18, 2013. She was 73 years old.

Carol was born to Norma Estes and Henry Schmidt on July 16, 1939 in Walla Walla, WA. After her parents divorced, Carol lived with her grandparents Win and Iris Estes. Eventually she returned to live with her mother and her step father Jack Davis, who later adopted her.

Carol loved her life on the ranch, where she rode her horses. She served as a Fair Court Princess in 1957. Carol attended Green Park grade school in Walla Walla, graduating from Prescott High School in 1957 and then attending Mills College in Oakland, California. Carol returned to Walla Walla in 1959 to marry John Speer Anderson, a fellow Walla Wallan and wheat farmer. They were married for 48 years before John died in 2008.

Carol and John farmed on the Lower Waitsburg Road in Spring Valley and had three children – Wynn Anderson of Portland, Oregon; Peter S. Anderson of Ventura, California; and Kristin A. Brownfield of Portland, Oregon. Carol was preceded in death by her half brother, Greg Davis and leaves behind her children and grandchildren, Otto Brownfield, Hunter Brownfield, Finn Anderson and Duffy Anderson.

Carol loved her work at the Whitman College bookstore where she was the assistant manager from 1979-1988, in addition to entertaining, cooking for her family, friends and harvest crew. She and John loved to travel and eventually settled in Newport, Oregon where she led a happy and full life.

Carol leaves us all with her strong commitment to family, her relentless, unwavering love, her uncanny sense of humor, and her ability to bring out the best in every person she met. Anyone who met Carol would never forget her and she will be deeply missed by not only her family, but her multitude of dear friends.

The Memorial Funeral Service will be held on Saturday, May 25, 2013 at 11:00 AM at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church. Memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society through the Herring Groseclose Funeral Home, 315 W. Alder, Walla Walla, WA.