Laurel Louise Anderson

Laurel Louise Anderson died on September 11, 2018, after a short period of ill health. She was born July 8, 1930 to Louis Hermann and Louise Henrietta Buehrle Stine in Jefferson City, Missouri. She graduated from Jefferson City High School, the Jefferson City Junior College, and attended the University of Missouri. In 1951, she married the love of her life, Harold E. Anderson in Jefferson City. They began married life in Louisville, Kentucky. In 1954, they moved to Kansas City, Kansas when Harold accepted a job with Hallmark Cards.

All three of their children were born in Kansas City. Laurel worked in the offices of Armour Meats and later at the regional offices of J.C. Penney. In 1968, they started a metal fabrication business in Bloomington, Illinois and moved the family to that community. While in Bloomington, Laurel was an active volunteer in her church and her children’s schools. She was a room mother, taught Sunday School, was a 4-H leader and a Cub Scout leader. In 1971, she decided to complete her degree and graduated from Illinois State University in 1973 with a Bachelor of Arts degree. While at ISU, she decided to learn to read and speak German to assist Harold in his hobby of collecting World War II pistols.

The business prospered and a branch facility was opened in Snow Hill, North Carolina in 1975. Laurel was actively involved in that business, traveling frequently to North Carolina.

While in North Carolina, she pursued one of her passions – mystery writing. She joined the Sisters In Crime writing group and made many life-long friends. Her passion often took her to writing workshops and mystery conferences like Malice Domestic and Bouchercon. She was a copy reader for the Sisters in Crime newsletter for decades.

In 1985, they sold their businesses in Bloomington and North Carolina. Laurel and Harold moved to Lexington, Kentucky to operate a metal fabrication business in Georgetown, Kentucky. While in Lexington, Laurel developed an interest in photography and became an avid amateur photographer. After selling the business in Georgetown, they moved to Louisville in 2000, where they purchased and operated Chalmers Products; Laurel was the president.

In Louisville, Laurel was an active volunteer in her church and her community. She taught Bible Buddies and her photographs of church events chronicled the life of the church. She was an active member of the Louisville Photographic Society (LPS) and was the editor of their newsletter. She was a member of the Kentucky Sisters in Crime chapter, editing their local newsletter and arranging programs. She was a member of the Louisville Metropolitan Police Department First Division Police Auxiliary and the Citizens Police Academy Alumni. She was a passionate supporter of the Portland Promise Center.

Laurel also enjoyed music and travel. She was a fan of opera, only rarely missing the Saturday afternoon Metropolitan Opera radio broadcast. When planning her first trip to New York City, she obtained tickets to the Metropolitan Opera, then booked airline tickets and a hotel. She made dozens of trips to England, Scotland, Wales, France, Germany and Switzerland, often attending mystery writer’s conferences or traveling with her grandchildren.

She is survived by her husband of 67 years, Harold, a daughter, Linda Phillips (Van), and two sons, Thomas (Taryn) and Timothy (Sandy). Her brother, William Stine, and fourteen grandchildren also survive. The grandchildren are: Andrew Phillips, Matthew Phillips, Christopher Phillips, Marisa Phillips Simmons, Rachael Anderson, Danielle Anderson Calagione, Kathleen Anderson, Tamsen Anderson, Meagan Anderson, Thomas D. Anderson, Steffijo Dutton, Staccijo Anderson, Steeleyjo Anderson, and Timothy Anderson, Jr. She is also survived by 9 great-grandchildren.

Her parents and an infant sister, Mary Elizabeth, preceded her in death.

Friends may call on Thursday, September 20, 2018 from 3:00 pm to 9:00 pm at the Heady-Hardy Funeral Home, 7710 Dixie Highway in Louisville. Services will be held on Friday, September 21, 2018 at 10:30 am at the funeral home. Interment will be at the Kentucky Veterans Cemetery Central in Ft. Knox.

Sympathy may best be expressed by contributions to the Portland Promise Center, 1831 Baird Street, PO Box 11865, Louisville, KY 40251-0865.