Florence Schneider Anderson
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Florence Schneider was born December 16, 1920 to Carl and Clara Diercks Schneider in Readlyn, Iowa in Bremer County. Florence passed away peacefully in her home Tuesday evening June 29, 2021 at the age of 100. Florence was the youngest of five children and grew up on the family farm. After high school, she moved to Waterloo, Iowa, lived with her sister and brother-in-law, and helped care for their children while working at Rath Meat Packing Plant. After saving enough money, she traveled to California with a couple of girlfriends to work. While in California, Florence met Richard (Andy) Anderson at a dance. They were married a few months later on May 21, 1948 and were married almost 64 years. They lived in California where Andy was stationed in the Navy and proceeded to travel all over the United States and lived for a brief time in Guam in the Western Pacific. Florence worked different jobs but primarily ran a daycare center taking care of military children in her home.
After Andy retired from the Navy, he took a job at Marine Military Academy in Harlingen, TX. Florence and Andy both liked Harlingen, that they made it their permanent home. Florence started attending St. Paul Lutheran Church January 1, 1967 and was the oldest member there when she passed away. When she could no longer attend church, Rodney Eckert faithfully visited Florence with fresh flowers and his homemade cookies. Many thanks to St. Paul Lutheran Church for making Florence's 100th birthday a special event.
Granny as her family called her was a firecracker; she had a great sense of humor and could whip out comebacks to any comment. She loved her grandchildren and loved when they came to visit. She enjoyed long phone conversations with her grandsons, nieces and nephews, working in her yard tending her fruit trees and flowers, reading and sharing stories with friends, and cooking. All of her recipes were by memory. She made the best Chocolate Chip Cookies. Each time her grandsons would come to visit she would make enough cookies to eat and more to take home. Granny made her last batch of cookies a month before her death. She loved playing card games and won many games in Golf and Five Crowns.
Florence is survived by her grandson Patrick Cryer and great granddaughter Madelynn Cryer of Dickinson, TX, grandson Kevin (Dawn) Cryer and their children Blake, Dustin and Jonah all of Louisiana and numerous nieces and nephews.
Florence was preceded in death by her husband Richard A. Anderson, Sr., son Richard A. Anderson, Jr., daughter Cathy Cryer, and son-in-law Pat Cryer.
Graveside will be held Monday, July 5, 2021 at 12:00 p.m. at Mont Meta Memorial Park in San Benito, Texas with Rev. David Mann officiating.
The family wishes to offer a special thanks to the staff at Kindred Hospice, to her niece Doris Studer, her dear friends Monty and Julie Morrow, and especially to her caregiver Amada Borgen.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Humane Society of Harlingen, 1106 Markowsky Avenue, Harlingen, Texas 78550 or Loaves & Fishes, 514 South E Street, Harlingen, Texas 78550.
Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to Buck Ashcraft San Benito Funeral Home, 1400 W. Business 77, San Benito, Texas 78586. www.sanbenitofuneralhome.com 956.361.9192