Tommie Jean Anderson

Tommie Jean Anderson, age 88, passed away in Tyler, Texas, on January 7, 2023. TJ, as her friends called her, had been residing at Garden Estates in Tyler since the passing of her husband, Donald Lee Anderson, in 2015. At the time of Don’s passing, they had been married for 62 years.

TJ was born in Douglas, Texas, on May 10, 1934, to Tom and Mattie Hester. She was preceded in death by her husband, Don, and her son, Donald Steven Anderson. Steve passed away in Tyler on October 31, 2021. She is survived by her only daughter, Kathleen Keeton (husband: Chuck) who now reside in Lebanon, Tennessee. TJ adored and was adored by two grand-children; Samantha Martin Harrison (husband: Robert) of Royse City, Texas, and Russell Lee Keeton (wife: Valerie) currently serving as a Captain with the United States Marine Corps in Iwakuni, Japan. Samantha and Rob brought TJ her only great-grandchild (so far), Miss Aria Grace Harrison. Aria, though only 4 years old, already shows a great deal of TJ’s “Hester Spunk.”

TJ left behind many close friends and many happy memories among all who knew and loved her. She was fun-loving, enjoying a laugh whenever she could find one, and could sit and talk with others for hours. She enjoyed travel and got to see much of the world in her lifetime. She also loved camping, dancing, and was always ready to go and see new things. As a matter of fact, if you said “go,” she said “where’s my purse, I’m going, too.” Her life was spent in steadfast devotion to her family—her husband, her children, her grand-children, and all the rest.

Her funeral will be held on Tuesday, January 17, 2023, at OT Allen Funeral Home in Alto, Texas at 11:00 A.M. Visitation will be held the evening before (January 16, 2023), also at OT Allen Funeral Home, from 6:00 to 8:00 PM. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to a charity of the sender’s choice.