Jack Anderson, born June 27, 1940, passed away at home in Cedar City, Utah on November 29. The son of Mable Carter Anderson and John Leonard Anderson, he grew up in Salinas, California. After graduating from Salinas High School, he joined a construction crew and built military housing in Hawaii, San Antonio, and Fort Leonard Wood in Waynesville, Missouri, where he met and married Beverly Matthews after a whirlwind five-month courtship.
The couple settled in Las Vegas in 1962, and Jack worked as a contractor in the fast-growing city for over 30 years, responsible for projects such as the Renaissance Centers, The Plazas on Sahara, and the Heart Institute. He retired in 2005 and moved to Cedar City.
He was a lifetime member of the Fraternity of the Desert Bighorn Sheep and participated in building dozens of water projects for wild sheep throughout Nevada. He completed the Bighorn Sheep Grand Slam, an achievement that took fifty years, requiring skill, patience, and perseverance. His successful hunts took him across rugged and isolated terrain in Alaska, British Columbia, Nevada, and Utah.
His 70th birthday was a special occasion, gathering over 30 friends and family to hike Wheeler Peak, in Great Basin National Park, over 13,000 feet tall. The weekend was spent hiking, storytelling around the campfire, with friends from all eras of his life.
Jack loved listening to Willie, Waylon, and the boys, reading mysteries, skiing, waterskiing, camping, riding ATVs, and hiking. One of his adventures was driving from south to north across Nevada without using a paved road. He loved spending time with his family, and was a bonus father to his children’s friends, instructing, mentoring and coaching many children over the years.
He was preceded in death by his parents, sister Diane Anderson Urrey, and niece Suzanne LaTourette. He is survived by his wife of 64 years, Beverly Anderson; his children John Matthew Anderson (Allison) and Dawn Yvonne Anderson; and grandchildren Hannah Anderson, Noah Anderson, and Sarah Anderson McDowell (David), nephews Kenny, Jeff, Philip, and David LaTourette and their families, and many friends. To leave online condolences, please visit www.mortuary.org.