Olan Earl Anderson

Olan Earl Anderson, 84, joined our Lord on March 2, 2007. He was a resident of Las Cruces, NM for the past 6 years. He was one of three children born to Lydia Ann Taylor and Earl Seaton Anderson in Lorena, Texas on October 22, 1922. While attending Texas A&M University, Olan joined the Army Air Corps to serve his country in WWII. He served as a second Leutinent bombadier in the 8th Air Force and received the Purple Heart for wounds received while flying over Germany. Upon receipt of his honorable discharge, he returned to Texas A&M where he completed a Master's degree in Agronomy. He began his career in Agriculture at the Texas A&M Experiment Station in Ysleta, Texas where he was to meet the love of his life, Anna Maurine Wiley. They were married on November 6, 1948. Together with his in-laws, Loyad and Lola Wiley and F.J. and Jean Dickson; the family moved to Animas, New Mexico and began farming. In Animas, they truly lived off of the land while building their home from used ammunition boxes. Always able to improvise, they found use for a cotton trailer that became attached to the home for use as a dining room. In 1952 the family moved to Garfield, New Mexico where Olan and Ann built their house from adobe they made themselves from the dirt in the front yard. With his love of the land and his extensive quest for knowledge, Olan developed a small parcel of land into a successful farming venture. He was a pioneer in the development of the vegetable production farming industry in the Hatch Valley. Olan was devoted to his family, his church, and his land. He loved to hunt and fish and was an avid sports enthusiast. No matter how hard others tried to dissuade him, he never gave up on supporting his team, the Texas Aggies. His passion for learning, compassion, and dedication to improving life was evident to all of those who knew him. Olan was a member of the Elephant Butte Irrigation District Board of Directors for 16 years and served as Branch President of the LDS church in Hatch, New Mexico. He is survived by his wife, Anna and his children and their spouses: Loyad and Kae Anderson of Las Cruces, and Carol and Raul Jimenez, MD of El Paso. He is survived by eight grandchildren: Jennifer & Henry Banks of El Paso and Mark Randall & Kristie Edge of Aurora, Co.; Bethanie Victoria Anderson, Ashley Renee Anderson, Zachary Taylor Anderson, Seth Earl Anderson, Morgan Elizabeth Evangelista, and McKenna Raye Evangelista of Las Cruces. He is also survived by four great-grandchildren: Caitlin Paige and Cassidy Danielle Banks of El Paso and Gage Andrew and Kaylie Meagan Edge of Aurora. He leaves behind his brother and wife, Frank N. and Joyce Anderson of Waco, TX; his sister Joyce Oakley of Jacksonville, NC; and his sister-in-law and her husband, Jean and F.J. Dickson of Garfield, N.M. His surviving nieces and nephews include Peggy Stokes and Jan & Gene Taylor of Jacksonville, NC.; Barry N. Anderson of Denison, TX.; Lola & Gary Cunningham of Las Cruces; Kay & Delbert Gillette of Albuquerque; and Christine & Gary Don Riggs of Hatch, N.M. His survivors also include multiple grand nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his mother and father, mother-in-law and father-in-law, and his niece Cathy Joyce Anderson. Graveside services will be held at the Garden of Memories in Hatch, New Mexico at 11:00 A.M. on Wednesday, March 7, 2007. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that donations be made to Mesilla Valley Hospice, 299 E. Montana, Las Cruces, NM 88005. PDF Printable Version