Henry George Anaya, Jr.
February 13, 1953 – August 20, 2026

Henry George Anaya Jr., beloved father, grandfather, brother, uncle, coach, friend and patriarch of the Anaya family, passed away unexpectedly on August 20, 2026, at the age of 73.

Henry was a proud Eagle Scout, following in the footsteps of his father, who had been his Scout leader. He grew up running wild with his brothers and sisters, climbing trees, swimming in rivers, getting into trouble, and collecting the stories he would retell for the rest of his life.

As the oldest of eleven children, Henry naturally became a protector, peacemaker, and storyteller. In time, he also became the keeper of his family’s history. He remembered the stories others forgot and made sure they were told again and again, usually with enough embellishment and laughter to make them even better.

He spoke often and fondly of his years at Fortuna High School (class of 1972), where he made lifelong friends and met the girl who would become the love of his life.

Henry and Denise shared more than 50 years together. Their life was not always easy, but in sickness and in health, Henry remained devoted to Denise, caring for her and staying faithfully by her side until her passing in 2023. There is comfort in knowing that he returned to her just days before what would have been their 40th wedding anniversary on August 23.

He spent 30 years with the United States Postal Service driving the rural route out Highway 36. Those who knew Henry also knew that “loved” would be a generous description of his feelings toward the Post Office. Still, he showed up every day, and always with a box of dog treats behind his seat. It was no secret that Henry loved animals with an enthusiasm that more than occasionally surpassed his tolerance for human beings.

Over the years, Henry had many beloved pets, including Nala and Stitch, who passed before him. He leaves behind his cats, George and Binx, and dog, Koda, his constant companion. Their daily drives became part of his routine, and he spoiled her without apology. 

He enjoyed staying active and was a lifelong athlete and sports fan. In his youth, he played football for Fortuna High School, and he continued playing soccer and softball locally into adulthood. He later became a beloved youth soccer coach, leading his teams to regional championships and leaving a lasting impression on generations of young athletes - even coming out of retirement to help coach his grandchildren.

Above nearly everything else, Henry treasured being “Poppa.” He was an everyday fixture in their lives - there for practices and games, family trips, celebrations, milestones, and all the ordinary moments in between. Being Poppa was not simply a title to Henry. It was one of the great joys of his life.

That love of family also reached backward through the generations. Henry loved history, particularly military history, and held enormous admiration for his father, a Korean War veteran and Purple Heart recipient. He was fascinated by his ancestry and heritage and took great pride in knowing where his family came from, preserving those stories so his children, grandchildren, nieces, and nephews would know where they came from too.

Henry also built a second family through friendships that lasted for decades. Some of his closest friends had known him since he was a teenager and were there through nearly every season of his life. They watched him fall in love, become a husband and father, raise his family and eventually become the grandfather he was so proud to be. They grew older alongside him, carrying decades of shared history, laughter, loyalty and stories that only get better with time. To Henry, those friendships were another kind of family.

Some of Henry’s happiest moments were spent sitting in the sun with the people he loved, playing “Who Sang This?” and listening to his famously eclectic mix of music. His playlists had a little bit of everything: Journey, Tom Jones, REO Speedwagon, Foreigner, John Mellencamp, Queen, Bruce Springsteen, the Righteous Brothers, Dean Martin, Michael Jackson, Garth Brooks and so many more. Other times, he could be found gathered around the television with family and friends, watching M*A*S*H, The Three Stooges, the old Pink Panther movies, anything with Brendan Fraser, or a football game. He was an unapologetically devoted San Francisco 49ers fan, proudly flying the team’s red and gold from the flagpole in front of his home.

Henry was fiercely proud and protective, stubborn, wise, deeply sentimental and incredibly funny. He also possessed a temper most frequently unleashed upon uncooperative inanimate objects. He was recognizable by his 49ers letterman jacket, iconic aviator sunglasses and familiar frown, but beneath that jacket was an enormous and deeply caring heart, and behind that frown was a beautiful smile and a boisterous laugh that those who knew him will never forget.

Henry was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Denise Anaya; his parents, Henry G. Anaya Sr. and Dolores (Valenzuela) Anaya; his siblings, Hope (Anaya) King, Steve Anaya, Michael “Mike” Anaya Sr., and Rick Anaya; and his nephew, Michael “Mikey” Anaya Jr. He was also preceded in death by other beloved family members and lifelong friends.

Henry is survived by his daughter, Cassi (Ryan) Bishop, and their children, Noah, Sawyer and Beckett; his son, Spenser (Kari) Anaya, and their children, Kali and Talon; and Alex Bishop, whom Henry loved and considered a grandson.

He is also survived by his siblings, Jack Anaya, Tim (Suzie) Anaya, Dorothy Anaya, Faith (J.R.) Rosales, Tina (Logan) Twitchell, and Ray (Michelle) Anaya, along with an enormous extended family of nieces, nephews, cousins and others who knew and loved him.

Henry was blessed with friendships that lasted a lifetime. He is survived by his dear friends Michael Harper, Rick Couch, Aaron Johnson, Martin Sanchez, Barry Taboda, Tami Bishop, Michael and Eileen Keener, and Steve and Rhonda Dibble, as well as many others he held dear.

Henry’s life cannot be measured only by the illnesses he survived, the years he worked, or the things he accomplished. His legacy lives in the people whose lives became intertwined with his: the children he raised, the grandchildren who called him Poppa, the nieces and nephews who retell his jokes and the friends who retell his stories, the players who now pass the lessons Coach taught them on to their own children and the brothers and sisters who remember the boy he once was.

We can remember him in old songs and 49ers games, family barbecues and sunny afternoons, dogs riding shotgun, Christian Brother’s brandy, and painfully slow drives. We will remember the aviators, that unmistakable laugh, and most of all, the way he loved us.

He will be profoundly missed and forever loved.

A celebration of Henry’s life will be held October 17, 2026, at 2 p.m. at The Fortuna River Lodge. Family and friends are invited to gather, share stories, laugh, remember, and celebrate a man whose greatest joy was simply having his people together. 

In Henry’s honor, we ask everyone to skip the traditional funeral attire and come dressed in their finest 49ers gear. Red and gold encouraged. We can think of no more fitting way to send him off.

The Anaya and Bishop families extend their heartfelt gratitude to Michael and Eileen Keener, Phil and Diane Grunert, and all those who offered their time, support, and generous contributions in memory of Henry. Your kindness and generosity during this difficult time have meant more than words can express.

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The obituary above was submitted on behalf of Henry Anaya’s loved ones. The Lost Coast Outpost runs obituaries of Humboldt County residents at no charge. See guidelines here. Email news@lostcoastoutpost.com.