Malcolm Douglas Anderson

January 16, 1932 - April 11, 2024

Malcolm Douglas Anderson, 92, of Woodinville, WA passed away April 11th, 2024 at Evergreen Hospice Center with his devoted daughter Jeannie by his side. He had Parkinson’s and died from complications of the disease. Mal is survived by his brother Martin Anderson (Arlene), sister Millicent Fouch (Paul), son Joe, daughter Jeannie, granddaughters Brittany Anderson Millen (Scott), Blair Ostrem Pehanich (John), Kelly Ostrem Trull (Jim) and great grandsons Cole Anderson Millen, Paul Daniel Trull and soon, Samuel Malcolm Pehanich. Mal was preceded in death by his brothers, Mark Anderson, Merrill (Sonny) Anderson and Terrance (Gib) Anderson as well as his sons John and Jim, and his cherished wife of almost 60 years, Mary Jo (Pilat) Anderson.

Born in Longview, WA to Claude Anderson and Henrietta Dobler, Mal was the second of six kids raised on a Jersey dairy farm. Farm life was central to his upbringing, so he was very involved in 4-H and FFA. Many of his legendary tales starred his mentor and “Ag” high school teacher, Harold Gilkey. Mal earned the nickname The Cucumber King of Cowlitz County working with his brother Gib cultivating cucumbers using their Gibson tractor. Upon graduation, Mal worked at Weyerhaeuser as a boxcar loader and an overhead crane operator. He was drafted and served two years in the US Army as a Jeep driver during the Korean War. When he got home, he focused on building his “spec house” in Longview, then met and married Mary Jo Pilat of Kelso, WA.

After moving the family to Seattle area, Mal worked in a variety of carpentry jobs until he was hired at Redmond Lumber in wood truss manufacturing. Mal then partnered with Paul Morris to form Roof Truss Supply, and finally, in 1983 he and Mary Jo started Woodinville Truss, Inc. Over the years, the company employed a lot of people, including family and many family friends. Woodinville Truss was the center of family life until 2010. At the high point, there were two truss manufacturing plants, in Woodinville and Arlington, WA. Mal had a lifelong passion for investing in commercial properties. Dad loved to hang out and “chew the fat” with whoever he met, talk about land, trusses, cows and life. Mal was a firm believer in providing opportunities for youngsters entering the workforce. He always felt that creating jobs meant security for families and he felt good knowing he helped people put a solid roof over their heads with roof trusses.

Mal and Mary Jo provided a wonderful home for their family in Redmond which was five acres of paradise to Mal. At home, Mal loved his garden, caring for his lawns, making burn piles, working on his original Gibson tractor and caring for all the family’s beloved animals. Mal and Mary Jo always championed family pursuits. They thoroughly enjoyed seeing their kids and their friends having a blast all over the property with motorcycles and horses. They hosted legendary Easter and 4th of July parties so many fondly remember. Mary Jo kept life organized and planned trips to Mazatlán to get Mal away from work. He loved the heat and his Mazatlán family!

In his later years, Mal doted on Mary Jo, having moved to their Cottage Lake home in Woodinville with the support of Joe and Jeannie. Despite the death of his beloved family members, Mal still loved his ice cream, Puppacinos with Gigi in the car, family time, joking with caregiver/friends, phone calls with his siblings, movies/tv and reminiscing with Joe and Jeannie. He was especially thrilled to see Brittany become a mom and watch Cole become a toddler. While it is devastating to lose him, we know our lives are forever enriched by knowing Mal. His strength, love and charm will live on in our hearts forever.

There will be a graveside service for Mal on May 11th, at 2pm at Cedar Lawns Memorial Park in Redmond. Afterwards friends and family are invited to a celebration of Mal’s remarkable life from 3:30pm to 6pm at Woodinville Hampton Inn & Suites, Mal’s former truss plant property.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.CedarLawns-Washington.com for the family.