Charles Reece Anderson

Charles Reece Anderson, 84, a resident of the Forest Grove, Oregon, community, and longtime past resident of Deer Island, passed away on March 27, 2019 at OHSU Tuality Community Hospital in Hillsboro, Oregon from kidney cancer.
Charles was born on October 16, 1934 in Deer Island, OR. He was one of four children born to Randolph and Mildred (Loyd) Anderson. He was raised on the family farm and graduated from St. Helens High School in 1952.
Following high school, Charles immediately went to work for Boise Cascade,  first in the paper bag factory and then in the yard crew. He worked there for 45 years total until his retirement in 1997.  He had a leave of absence from employment when he was drafted into the US Army in 1957.  He served his country for two years in Iceland and returned to Boise Cascade.
He met his future wife, Marie Mayer, while attending a dance at the Pumpkin Ridge Grange Hall. Nine months, later they married on September 24, 1960, in Forest Grove.  They made their home in Deer Island and had five children:  David, Barbara, Leo, Randy and Jamie. Charles and Marie moved to Forest Grove in 2011.
Charles enjoyed the outdoors, especially fishing, hunting and gardening.  He enjoyed taking Marie for drives to see the ocean.  Marie and Charles also liked to travel, mainly throughout the Pacific Northwest, but they also took road trips up into Canada to visit friends. Charles loved to dance to Polka, loved Square Dancing, and he loved listening to blue grass music. Charles loved working on their small farm in Deer Island and he shared this love with his wife, children and grandchildren. They raised cows, chickens, goats, rabbits, etc.  Charles was a 4-H leader for 18-20 years, having taught all subjects to his own children as well the local area children.  He also spent every summer haying with his family.
He was County Deputy in Deer Island Grange.  He was an active member of The Knights of Columbus of St. Frederics Catholic Church of St. Helens, OR.  He was a parishioner of St. Frederic's until later transferring to St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church.
In retirement:  Charles loved to drive and spent many hours behind the wheel.  He delivered products for Oregon Hill Farms and would often be rewarded with a bowl of clam chowder at Pig 'n Pancake in Seaside, Astoria or Cannon Beach.  He was a gleaner (delivered bread) for St. Frederics Church.  He was such a helpful person that he would stop to assist a broken down bus full of people or offer a ride to a hitchhiker.  He once brought home a couple of hitchhikers and gave them room and board in exchange for work and clothes.  Poor Marie was very nervous.  He supervised a holly wreath making crew in St. Helens.  Charles and Marie enjoyed visiting the Pacific Northwest casinos and enjoyed eating the complimentary birthday meals.  He loved to play cards with family and friends. And, Charles and Marie met quarterly with the "Energizers" (Boise Cascade retirees and spouses).
He is preceded in death by his parents; two sons, David and Leo; a son-in-law, Gene Bower; and two sisters, Mary Ellen Littke and Shirley Wyatt.
He is survived by his loving wife, Marie, and three children and their spouses, (eight grandchildren) ((eight great grandchildren)):  Barbara Bowen of Castlerock, WA, (Christopher Anderson)((Emmett and Wyatt)), (Carl Jackson), (Tiffany Jackson); Randy and April Anderson of Molalla, OR, (Ashley Ehlen) ((Gwen)), (Michael) ((Walter and Emma)), (Bradley)((Annalynn and Iris));  Jamie and Tammy Anderson of Yuma, AZ (Mikayla Anderson), (Marina Anderson)((Mathew));and, a sister; Lizette Smith of Longview, WA.