Nancy D. Anderson

Nancy Louise Dennis was born to Dr. Lawrence and Marguerite Dennis on October 11, 1941 in Watertown, Wisconsin.  She was second born of seven children.  Growing up in a large family had its blessings and challenges.  She learned what it was to take care of others as she grew up to be a “big sister.”

In 1955, her family moved to Albany, Oregon, where her father furthered his practice of osteopathic medicine.  Then in 1958, they moved to Milwaukie, Oregon, where she finished her senior year at Milwaukie High School in 1959. 

Nancy decided to go to the University of Portland for a degree in nursing.  During this time she met and then married Lloyd G. Anderson in 1961. Two precious children were born to them, Kurtis John in January of 1962 and Donica Jean in June of 1966.  Their marriage ended in 1969, and she began the life of being a single, working mother. 

During the 1960’s, Nancy began a love for sailing.  She joined the Willamette Sailing Club where she crewed, flying the trapeze, in sailing competitions in a 505 sailboat.  

As a sports enthusiast, Nancy loved sports from sailing to basketball, football to tennis.  She encouraged her children to participate in sports and supported them in their respective choices.  She loved being a part of the Portland Trailblazer booster club, and fully supported women’s sports, especially Portland State University’s Women’s Basketball.  In recent years, her love for tennis and tennis great, Roger Federer, grew and overflowed onto anyone willing to sit and watch the sport with her.

As a business woman, she dedicated herself to helping those that needed it most.  She began as a secretary and bookkeeper for various companies and through much effort and strong ambition became the owner of 3 H&R Block franchises.  After selling her franchises, she became a Certified Enrolled Agent and an effective liaison for those in trouble with the IRS.  Knowing the condition of many of her clients’ finances, she would often accept whatever they had, service or product, as payment for her services, even if it didn’t cover the whole cost.  She loved her work and she cared for the down trodden.  She did this until her retirement in 2016. 

As a devoted grandma, her love for her five grandchildren abounded.  She made every effort to keep in touch, support their interests and congratulate them on their accomplishments. 

Time with her sisters and brothers meant the world to her.  The annual sibling get-togethers for dinner or more recently a sister’s Alaskan Cruise were a definite highlight for her.  She enjoyed keeping up with their lives and often made regular calls to see how they all were doing.      

In 2005, Nancy gave her life to Jesus Christ at the age of 63.  Her son, Kurt, had the privilege of baptizing her.  In a quiet way, she lived out her faith to the best of her ability.  The love, mercy and grace of her Savior became more evident in her life as her life began to be dialed down due to severe chronic pain.  She prayed for so many in the stillness of her home to which we are all thankful. 

She made the most of her little corner of the world.  She had a group of ladies where she lived that she loved to help in any way she could. Whether she took them to the store or to the doctor, she wanted to be that support for them, and fittingly them for her.

Nancy went home to be with the Lord sometime in the night on June 21, 2020, snuggled comfortably in her bed. 

Nancy is survived by her children and grandchildren:  Kurt & Christina Anderson, Josh & Melissa Benner, Austin & Hannah Wentworth and Grant & Casey Anderson; Ronnie & Donica Washington, Matthew Washington and Nate Washington.  Her siblings: Lynne White, Sallie Parson, Skip & Teresa Dennis, Max & Debbie Justice and Peter Dennis, as well as a myriad of amazing nieces, nephews, cousins and extended family.

Arrangements in care of Riverview Abbey Funeral Home.

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