Our beloved mother, Juanita May (Sullivan) Anderson, has passed away of natural causes. With her children by her side, she closed her blue eyes for the last time on October 10, 2025 at the age of 96 in Eureka.

She was born on September 2, 1929 in Battle Creek, Michigan to parents Goldie (Biggs) Sullivan and Claude Sullivan. She was the middle child of three girls, older sister Princess, and younger sister Barbara.

Her parents started their life together in West Frankfort, Illinois. There her father worked in the coal mine, while her mother took care of the home and their first daughter. After several years working in the coal mine, her father moved his family to Battle Creek, Michigan, where he was able to get a better job at the Kellogg Cereal Factory, working on the belt line that roasted, what was then and now known as the breakfast cereal Kellogg’s Cornflakes, until he retired.

With the birth of their second child, a little blue-eyed, blonde-haired daughter they named Juanita May Sullivan, they moved out of the small one bedroom apartment to a house a few miles out of town. A few years later their third daughter Barbara completed the family.

Over the years Juanita and her sisters enjoyed living there. In winter, they shoveled the snow from the driveway, which according to her, Princess and Juanita did more playing in the snow than shoveling…but they always got it done before their father got home. Then, in the spring and summer, they helped weed the garden, but soon their father noticed that there was more eating than weeding going on. His three daughters loved to eat the tomatoes and string beans off the vines and put as many strawberries and raspberries in their mouth as they possibly could. So, he would chase them out of the garden, and they would run away giggling. Summer was also a time to spend afternoons with her sisters at the river, swimming and talking, which she loved so much.

Her memories growing up with not only her sisters and her parents, but also in the company of her grandparents, uncles, aunts and cousins on both sides of her family, would always bring a smile to her face.

In 1945, at the age of sixteen, she was introduced to a young soldier by the name of Virgil L. Anderson, who would become the love of her life and the father of her six children. They were married on May 24, 1946 in Battle Creek. They lived there during and after Virgil’s discharge from the army for several more years. During those years, Juanita gave birth to their first three children, Virgil Jr., Shirley, and Wanetta. Then they moved to California, where Virgil was from. They stayed awhile in Fresno, but there were no long-term jobs there, so they packed up again and headed for Eureka, this time with another addition, a new baby girl named Rose. There, they were able to move into a house that was close to Virgil’s family, and Virgil got a permanent job with the California State Highway, better known today as Caltrans. Juanita loved it there — more room for her family, which was good, for in time two more baby girls were born, Janet, and completing the family, Marcia.

Mom was a very caring and loving mother, who always put her children first. No matter what time of the day or night, when one of us needed her, she was there! She wiped away our tears, held us when we were frightened, put a band-aid on our scratches, always followed by a kiss. At the end of a long day — and no matter how tired or sick she must have been at times — she made sure all of her children were fed, bathed daily and had clean clothes to wear and a clean, warm bed to sleep in.

Mom liked to read, work on large puzzles, sew and quilt blankets for any and all newborn babies that came along in her extended family or neighbors.

She was always there to baby-sit any children for parents that needed her help.

Until the day she died, she still remembered each of those children and their names.

Mom believed in herself and her husband. They grew strong together in their love for each other and their children. Mom also believed in her faith in Jehovah God. She grew even stronger with His love and support. She would read her Bible each day, and prayed to her heavenly Father to help her through times of sorrow that would touch her life many times over.

Mom was preceded in death by her beloved husband of 65 years, Virgil L. Anderson Sr., her parents Goldie and Claude Sullivan, sisters Princess (Sullivan) Allerding and Barbara (Sullivan) Gamble, grandparents and great-grandparents Sullivan and Biggs, son-in-law Denny Procissi, great-grandson Clayton Jackson, great-grandson Douglas Anderson, father-in-law Lloyd Anderson and step mother-in-law Ruth Anderson, ex mother-in-law Lucille Lane, sister-in-law Vyral Reeser, sister in-law Pat Anderson, brother-in-law Norris Blasingame and many more loving relatives and friends.

She is survived by her six children, son Virgil Jr. (wife Susan), daughters Shirley (husband Chris Cabalzar Jr.), Wanetta, Rose, Janet and Marcia. And eleven grandchildren, twenty great grandchildren and four great-great grandchildren, her sister in-law Barbara Blasingame, sister-in-law and brother in-law Mary Sue and Carl Anderson, brother in-law Andy Anderson, nieces, nephews, and many friends. If we have left someone out, please forgive us. There are so many of you who she loved and cared about.

A Message and a Wish for You, Mom

Mom, our hearts are broken … and tears are falling down our face … but you are not here to wipe them away. But we know what you would say … “No, I am not there … my time with you … my children … has ended for now. But you have each other to lean on for support and strength … that’s what I want you kids to do”

And that’s what we will do, Mom.

Mom, our wish for you … may the next time you open your blue eyes … may you see Dad and your family … that you have wanted to see and be with for so long.

But for now rest … your work is done.

Thank you Mom for everything … We Love You … Goodnight!

— Virgil, Shirley, Wanetta, Rose, Janet, Marcia

“Jehovah is my shepherd. I will lack nothing. In grassy pastures he makes me lie down; He leads me to well-watered resting-places.” Psalm 23:1, 2

Viewing:

• Goble’s Mortuary, Fortuna
• Friday, October 17, 2025
• 11:30 a.m. to 12 p.m.

Funeral Service :

• Goble’s Mortuary, Fortuna
• Friday October 17, 2025
• 12 p.m. to 1 p.m.

Burial Service:

• Sunset Memorial, Eureka, at 2 p.m.

We, the children of Juanita Anderson, want to thank the following nurses and staff for their loving and wonderful care they gave our mother over the last days of her life.

• Dr. Gregory Holst
• St. Joseph Providence Hospital
• Granada
• Sequoia Springs Senior Living
• Hospice of Humboldt

In lieu of flowers please make donations to her favorite charities, the Cancer Society and Hospice of Humboldt.

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