On February 23, 2026, heaven received its newest angel when Fred Ross Anderson lost his battle with pancreatic cancer.

Fred was born on May 27, 1950, to Dorothy Ross Anderson and Lonnie Fred Anderson in Henderson, Texas. Subsequently, the family moved to Palestine, Carthage, and Shreveport before settling in Tyler where Fred spent the majority of his life and career.

Fred married and fathered three sons, Cody, Casey, and Clay, and joined the family business, Gas Services Inc., in 1972 where he helped grow it to an international oil field service. He still found time to serve his community and church family by participating in such activities as church finance and building planning, and the Mesquite 4B tax campaign. He sponsored several youth teams and even sponsored a dirt track race car for an employee.

In 1998, he married his soulmate, Jennifer Nash Stamper. She and family were his greatest loves.

After retirement, Fred was able to do what he really cherished, serving others. Following Hurricane Rita, he spent weeks with the recovery efforts earning him the Humanitarian of the Year Award from the Catholic Charities of Southeast Texas. While living in Smith Point, TX, he served as president of the Smith Point Volunteer Fire Department and led Hurricane Ike recovery efforts there.

In Gilmer he was involved in everything from distributing food baskets, to helping with the Dickson Colored Orphanage Cemetery restoration, to attending exercise classes with his Silver Sneakers family.

One of Fred’s greatest loves was being Santa Claus for his church family, the Gilmer Chamber of Commerce, friends, family and various organizations. It was this role that awarded him Gilmer's 2018 Unsung Hero of the year.

He is survived by his wife, Jennifer, sons Cody and wife Brenda, Casey and wife Shelley, and Lonnie Clay and wife Annie, grandchildren, Ethan, Cooper and Graham Anderson, sister Karen Cochrum and husband George plus many cousins, nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles and in-laws.

As a friend said, Fred gave the best hugs and made hearts happy with his smile! He embraced both joy and challenge with the same passionate faith. He will be sorely missed by family, friends and community.

A Celebration of Life will be held at First Methodist Church in Gilmer on Saturday, March 7, 2026, at 1:30 PM.