Leo Anderson

Leo Cly Anderson Anderson -- Leo, 97, died peacefully Tuesday, January 29, 2013 in Roanoke, VA. The son of the late Otis Atwood and Goldie Cly Anderson, and the eldest of four children, Leo was born in Vinita on January 15, 1916. Leo graduated Vinita High School in 1934 and was a beloved member of the local community for many decades. After high school, Leo attended Northeastern Oklahoma A&M and participated in building the Pensacola Dam that created Grand Lake O' the Cherokees. He joined the U.S. Navy and served in WWII. On his return to Vinita, he knew he wanted property on the lake he had helped create and he eventually bought land in Ketchum Cove where he built and occupied three different homes. Leo married Margaret Hall on December 25, 1936. They had a daughter Linda who succumbed to Polio at age 14 in 1954. Linda was the love of their life - beautiful inside and out - and it was a deeply tragic loss. Margaret died of cancer at age 60 in 1980 in their 44th year of marriage. In 1981, Leo married Jeane Holden who had three children including a son and two daughters. Leo and Jeane moved to Roanoke in 2006 and Jeane died in 2008 in their 26th year of marriage. Leo is past Worshipful Master of the Vinita Lodge and played an integral role in building the Vinita Masonic lodge temple constructed in 1951. He was a long-time member of the First Christian Church and was the Baritone in the popular "Discipleaires" gospel quartet that traveled regionally performing full-length concerts of both hymns and specially-arranged gospel numbers. He was a member of the Vinita Country Club and the Cherokee and Arrowhead Yacht Clubs. He also was a volunteer at the Vinita Public Library. Leo was an entrepreneur who had a productive business career working alongside his father helping grow their company "Anderson Machine & Body Works" that advertised, "We make anything but a living". Their work included making high-quality branding irons, hay hooks and horse walkers. They also manufactured custom truck beds and built hundreds of fishing and boat docks and ramps on Grand Lake. Their shop was known for creating elaborate mechanical Christmas decorations that consistently won top prizes for the two Anderson houses located in the 500 block of N. Thompson St. They also helped manufacture floats for the annual rodeo parade that began in 1935 honoring Will Rogers and faithfully constructed comfortable grandstands for parade watchers. Leo was a highly-skilled craftsman who built many beautiful things from metal and wood. After retiring, he applied his considerable woodworking talents producing novel creations and selling them in craft shows in Missouri, Arkansas and Oklahoma. Leo loved the outdoors and was an accomplished fisherman. He enjoyed many, many hours catching crappie, bass and sand bass over the years at Grand Lake and traveled to Alaska with his buddies catching salmon and trout. He owned an Airstream trailer and always was quick to load up and travel the U.S. including frequent visits to join family members at snowbird destinations in southern Texas and Arizona. Always quick to share a joke or engaging story, Leo will be remembered for the big smile on his face, the twinkle in his eye, his warm gentle nature, and his extraordinary kindness and generosity. Leo was preceded in death by his brothers Bud and Perry Anderson and sister Betty Lattimore. Leo is survived by stepson Jack R. Tilbury of Woodbridge, VA and his wife Jean; stepdaughters Terri K. Burke of Roanoke, VA and her husband Stephen; and, Judith L. Perrine of Morrison, CO and her husband Terry. The Holden/Tilbury family includes 5 grandchildren, 5 great-grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews. Surviving Anderson family members include nieces Paula Lattimore Filer of Dallas, TX, Sue Lattimore Newsom of Hot Springs, AR and Robyn Lattimore Hayes of Vero Beach, FL; nephew Bruce Anderson of Dallas, TX and his wife Lisa; and three generations of nieces and nephews. The family will receive friends from 5 to 7 pm Wednesday, February 6th at Luginbuel Funeral Home, 332 N Scraper, Vinita, OK 74301. The funeral will be held Thursday at 1:00 pm at the Ketchum United Methodist Church with Mr. Carl Hamilton officiating. Interment will follow at Fairview Cemetery in Vinita. Friends may make donations in Leo's name to the Ketchum United Methodist Church, P. O. Box 239, Ketchum, OK 74349. Online condolences may be made at www.honoringmemories.com.

Visitation Details

Wednesday, February 6th, 2013 5:00pm - 7:00pm, Luginbuel Funeral Home Vinita

Service Details

Thursday, February 7th, 2013 1:00pm, Ketchum United Methodist Church

Interment Details

Fairview Cemetery - Vinita