Phyllis "Pete" (Miller) Anderson

December 05, 1920 - October 11, 2013

Phyllis "Pete" (Miller) Anderson Obituary (Aged 92) Pete passed away October 11, 2013, in Spokane, WA, where she resided for only six months in a memory care facility. She was born in Massillon, OH, December 5, 1920, the youngest child of Edith Mae (Smith) and Carl Edward Miller. Pete, nicknamed after a favorite comic strip ?Petey Dink? in the ?20?s, graduated from River Rouge HS, MI, in 1938, a time when only 50% of 18 year olds did so. Dating the love of her life from the time she was 15, Pete married Merle ?Deacon? Anderson a few weeks after her 18th birthday on December 30, 1938 in Napolean, OH. After Deacon?s service in the Army during WWII, they settled in Claremont, CA, in 1947 with their two children where she resided until his passing in December 1998. In addition to her husband of 60 years, she was preceded in death by her parents, step mother Mabel (McBride), brother Carl O. Miller, and sister Janet Rose. She is survived by her son John (Terri Ensell), Solana Beach, CA; daughter Diane Crow (Sandy Roistacher), Spokane, WA; grandson Dean Crow (Karen), Costa Mesa, CA; grandson Evan Anderson, Solana Beach, CA; granddaughter Kate Anderson, Livermore, CA; great-grandchildren Brendan, Michael, Alexandra Crow, Costa Mesa, CA; brother-in-law Ralph Anderson (Mary Smith), Vista, CA; nieces Sally Rose Durocher, Austin, TX; Terry Lou McDaniel (Dana), Lakeside, CA; Donna Bautista (Lynn), La Quinta, CA; nephews Tom Rose (Kathie),Celebration, FL; Jim Logan, Rancho Cucamonga, CA; Dick Logan, La Verne, CA; Tom Anderson (Lynn), Lake Forest, CA; and numerous nieces and nephews scattered around the country, descendants of her Anderson in-laws. Pete was the quintessential wife, mother and homemaker in the era of the 1940?s, ?50?s and ?60?s, keeping a warm and well managed home. She prepared excellent traditional American meals for the family and spiced up man a holiday meal with gourmet dishes. She served as a Girl Scout troop leader and a Cub Scout den leader. Pete had an artistic flair as well, starting with painted ceramic figures and decorative plates and graduating to oil paintings of landscapes and flowers Pete also enjoyed a rich social life with the women?s golf club, 30 years of monthly canasta parties and scores of backyard BBQ s. After Deacon?s death in December 1998, she lived with John and Terri in Solana Beach, CA, with a great view of the Pacific Ocean. It was Terri who cared for her as Pete?s dementia and osteoarthritis tool their tolls over the next 15 years. Pete will be interred at Oak Park Cemetery, Claremont, CA, next to her mother and husband.