Leola Anderson
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1929-2021
Colorado City----
Leola Dean Harper Anderson passed away on September 4, 2021 at her home in Colorado City at the age of 92. She was born in Colorado City on June 27, 1929 to Sam and Mattie Harper. Leola graduated from Colorado High School as Salutatorian of her class in 1946 and worked for the phone company as a switch board operator. After World War II, she met and married, Warren Anderson in Snyder on February 28, 1947.
Leola and Warren lived and worked on a cotton farm just east of Colorado City and celebrated 67 years of marriage before his death in 2014. Leola didn't drive a tractor or hoe in the fields, but she had her hands on everything else. She was a matriarch in the truest sense of the word.
With their older children graduated from college or in college, and the youngest son in high school, Leola sought a new challenge and went to college herself.
She soon found herself to be the "oldest middle aged woman" in classes at Western Texas College in Snyder. She wasn't deterred (she really never was) as she graduated with her associate's degree in art. Wanting to learn more, and as she characterized it, "to keep my sanity", she continued her education by commuting back and forth to UTPB in Odessa for two years and graduated with a Bachelors of Art degree. While at UTPB, Leola developed her own unique style of painting and began to expand her artistic talent. Leola continued her art studies at Texas Tech University in Lubbock and earned her master's degree before returning to her art studio on the farm in Colorado City.
Her art was important to her, and hosting art shows and selling paintings helped pay the bills, but she soon found that her favorite subjects to paint were her eight grandkids and later her 14 great grandkids. And she would tell you that she selfishly did some of those paintings so they would all come see her more often. Her home, as well as the homes of her children and grandchildren, are full of family portraits. If you were fortunate enough to know Leola, chances are you have one of her portraits of your children or grandchildren hanging on your walls too.
Leola was a great cook and every time family members came to see her, she would insist they have lunch with her. She cooked the best chicken fried steak and mashed potatoes and chocolate cream pies. If you came for breakfast it was her famous chocolate chip pancakes?others say it was her biscuits and gravy. In her later years, Leola wasn't able to stand and cook all morning so she hired a personal caretaker who helped her continue that tradition.
Leola put her soul in everything that she did. It was in her art and her food. It was in handwritten birthday cards. It was in the most casual conversation. She loved deeply and will be deeply missed.
Leola was preceded in death by her husband Warren, her parents, two brothers and a sister. She is survived by daughter Kathy Cash and husband Wayne, Woody and Susan Anderson, Les Anderson, and Randy and Kim Anderson. She would tell you even if you didn't ask her that her biggest joy in life were her grandchildren and later her great grandchildren. They include Brad and Leslie Anderson, Kendra Anderson Hassell, Ashton and Ashley Anderson, Lauren Anderson, Zach and Ashley Anderson, Jed and Misti Anderson, Aaron and Nancy Cash, and Emily Cash Morton and husband Daniel. She is also survived by 14 great grandchildren and number is 15 on the way.
Arrangements for Leola Anderson are being handled by Kiker-Seale Funeral Home in Colorado City. A visitation will be held at the funeral home Tuesday, September 7th from 5:00-7:00 pm. The family asks that facemasks be worn at the visitation. A family graveside service will be held Wednesday, September 8th at 10:00 at the Colorado City cemetary. A celebration of life is planned hopefully later in the year.
The family also asks that in the place of flowers, that memorials be made to First United Methodist Church, 333 Chestnut, Colorado City, Texas 79512.