On March 28, 2022, Nancy Charlene (Gimmy) Anderson, peacefully passed away at age 86 in Fernandina Beach, Florida. After a lifetime full of love, joy, family, and adventure, she joins with her loving God, to see her brothers Art & Bob, and her parents Carl & Nettie Gimmy who preceded her into eternity. She is survived by her husband, Richard Bruce Anderson, children Stephen, Paul, John & Joy, grandchildren Hayley, Sydney, Lani, and Arya. They grieve her passing but take comfort in a life well lived, with the knowledge that her spirit lives forever.

Nancy was born in Los Angeles, California in the midst of the Great Depression and learned the lessons of hard work, dedication to success, commitment to faith and service to others. Her belief in a greater God was her guiding star in celebrating good times and living through the difficult patches of life. She attended Hollywood High School (yes, that Hollywood) and graduated high school at age 16 and then graduated from UCLA with a Bachelor of Arts in Education in 1957. Years later in 1981 she went back to college and earned a master’s degree in Counseling. During her formative years, she helped her father in his florist shop that serviced the Hollywood celebrities of the time. While at UCLA, she was active in Delta Zeta Sorority and assisted with teaching migrant kids in the California farming encampments during her summer break. In her senior year, she met a University of Kansas student who was visiting Los Angeles and a year later married Richard, who would be her life-long partner and love of her life. Kids followed soon after and then they started a lifetime of adventure across the United States and traveled to every continent around the world.

Ever the faithful loving spouse and mother, she raised four kids, while being an active member with a lifetime of service in the Presbyterian Church. She was widely known for her infectious laugh, her love of cats (almost more than her children), fearless card and game player, recycling bent cans before recycling was a thing, her disastrous cantaloupe soufflé, and her ability to incorporate a zucchini into any dish during a bumper crop season. She was an avid exerciser and rollerbladed into her 70’s covered with so many pads that she could hardly move. She would tell her children often that she was the tetherball champion of her 5th grade.

Always the loving servant in faith to God and others, she was active in children’s programs, established a nursery school, taught youth of all ages, became a High School career counselor, served in prison ministry, and had a steadfast belief that everyone deserved a second chance. Thinking of others before self, she found joy in service, and in her later years, she was there to assist Richard in his time of need.

She would want most to be remembered for what she did for helping others. As she loved, so too was she loved. A wonderful mother, loving spouse, and friend to all. She will be missed dearly.

The memorial service for Nancy Anderson will be held at the First Presbyterian Church of Ft Lauderdale, FL on 18 June. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to a local charity in your area. If you wish to contact Richard or the Anderson family, please send mail to PO Box 15097, Fernandina Beach, FL 32035