John Richard Anderson

He served his country in the United States Navy as a Machinist Mate 3rd Class during the Vietnam War and was awarded with the corresponding Vietnam Service Medal and Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal.

His father’s career as a Mechanical Engineer allowed the family to experience new cultures while growing up abroad in Bolivia, Chile, Panama and Antigua, where he was introduced to diving. His love of the sea and the adventure of travel to exotic places led him to Commercial Underwater Diving throughout Indonesia and other Southeast Asian waters. While residing in Jakarta for 25 years, his career included the building of fuel pipelines as well as the construction of new roads, pump stations, bridges, and dams through the swamps, jungles, and mountains of Sulawesi, Sumatra, and Singapore. After returning to the U.S., he continued his work in an array of capacities to include offshore oil related projects which prolonged his passion for traveling throughout the world until his retirement in 2012.

He is preceded in death by his parents, Richard and Nell Anderson, sister, Carole Crow, and brothers, David and Steve Anderson. He is survived by his loving wife, Janet, his son, Peter Anderson, step-sons, Chris and Nathan Hessong, step-grandsons, Tyler and Dylan Hessong, sister-in-law, Leslie Anderson, and all his adored nieces, nephews, their spouses and precious children. A special thanks to numerous other family and friends for their prayers and support.

Visitation will be held on Tuesday, April 11th ,10:00 A.M with funeral services to follow at 11:00 A.M, officiated by The Rev. Dr. Jerald W. Hyche at Metcalf Funeral Home in Conroe, Texas.

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IN LOVING MEMORY

John Richard Anderson

October 7, 1947 - April 2, 2023

Light of Peace

Many waters I have sailed throughout the voyage of life,

Over waters tranquil free of pain and strife.

Sometimes tossed in raging storms though never left alone,

There was a light that beckoned me toward the shores of home.

Always in the distance this beacon I could see,

Giving me direction as I sailed upon life's sea.

My journey is completed now the tide is drifting in,

My vessel moves on gentle waves...Eternity begins.

Old Testament-Lamentations 3:22-26, 31-33

Read by Connie Vara

The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases, his mercies never come to an end; they are new

every morning; great is thy faithfulness. "The Lord is my portion," says my soul, "therefore I will hope in him." The Lord is good to those who wait for him, to the soul that seeks him. It is good that one should wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord. For the Lord will not cast off for ever, but, though he cause grief, he will have compassion according to the abundance of his steadfast love; for he does not willingly afflict or grieve the sons of men. The Word of The Lord. Thanks be to God.

New Testament-1 John 3:1-2

A Reading from the First Letter of John

Read by Clara Naccarato

See what love the Father has given us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him. Beloved, we are God's children now; it does not yet appear what we shall be, but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. The Word of The Lord. Thanks be to God.

Gospel-John 10:11-16

The Holy Gospel of Our Lord Jesus Christ According to John

Read by Reverend Dr. Jerald W. Hyche

Jesus said, "I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. He who is a hireling and not a shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees; and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. He flees because he is a hireling and cares nothing for the sheep. I am the good shepherd; I know my own and my own know me, as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep. And I have other sheep, that are not of this fold; I must bring them also, and they will heed my voice. So there shall be one flock, one shepherd."

Psalm 23

Read by all

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures; he leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul; he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his Name's sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies; thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.

Brad Crow's Eulogy

Hero. A word that all little boys love and look for in life. But I had it easy because mine was the man I was named after...my Mom's second brother, Johnny. My Uncle Johnny was the coolest, and he could do anything! He was a diver, was in the Navy, played guitar and sang, rode motorcycles, and was the star of so many other stories growing up. "Johnny's home" was one of the sweetest sentences Mom could ever say to Matt Crow and I growing up because Johnny lived overseas and as Matt put it best, we saw Santa Claus more than we got to see Uncle Johnny, so those visits every so many years meant so much. And then the day came, and Johnny did come home! He married Aunt Janet and we got to see him, and my sons got to spend time with him. We recently went to Belize together. But then Johnny got sick and that

word came out...cancer. But my hero was not going to lose! Heroes beat everything, right? Johnny got sick and lost so much weight and his body finally gave out. I lost my hero yesterday and I am so sad. I can hear Mom tell Matt and I..."Johnny's home."

Music

Amazing Grace / Judy Collins

Rock of Ages / Ray Price

Somewhere Over The Rainbow / Israel Kamakawiwo'ole (IZ)

Sailing / Christopher Cross

Morning Has Broken / Cat Stevens

Sail Away / Enya

In The Morning Light / Yanni

Have I told You Lately / Van Morrison

I Will Remember You / Sarah McLachlan

Relatives & Friends

Brad, Michell, and Jaxon Crow

Asa and Garrett Tipton

Matt and Christy Crow

Thomas and Gisela Trohn

JoAnn Meyer

Dorothea Bible

Anita Carmona

Nathan, Chris, Tyler, and Dylan Hessong

Tamie Hingle

Dee and Yancey Long

Freddy and Connie Vara

Tim, Clara, Neal and Paula Naccarato

Adam and Heather Burris

Troy Schroeder

Mike Pugh

Michael Gaston

Vicki Willis

Tina Jackson

Tracy Maddocks

Carolyn Jones

Pam Taras

Ray Rogers

Melinda Zuber - St. James

Flowers of Remembrance

Melvin Blaylock & Family

Chris, Tamie, TJ, Tyler & Dylan

Stephanie, Jordan, Madelyn Dusek, Tyler & Dylan

Troy Schroeder

Jo Schroeder

Dave & Toni Brinks

Curt, Janice, & Leslie Neyland

Vicki & Vance Willis

Bonnie & Johnny Rizzo

Daughters of the King of St. James

Montgomery County Tax Office Call Center

Greg & Candace Baker

Michelle Foust & Wayne Britain