Stuart (Stu) Lee Anderson passed on February 3, 2022 at the age of 81. He is survived by his beloved wife of 60 years, Carol S. Anderson; his three children: Becky A. Hill, Margie Joy (Leif), and J.D. Anderson (Rachel); his five grandchildren: Ellen Hill, Isabella Anderson, Addie Joy, Charlie Anderson, and Mason Anderson; his two sisters Marcia L. Wheat (Ron) and Tammy S. Ogilvie (David); and a large extended family and countless friends.
Stu was born August 3, 1940 in Tucson, Arizona to H. Lynn Anderson and Marjorie (McKinney) Anderson. His early childhood was spent on numerous cattle ranches throughout Arizona, which his father managed for Western Farm Management. His first years of schooling were in a one-room schoolhouse on Eagle Creek near Clifton, Arizona. He spent his formative years on his family’s farm in the western Phoenix Valley, where he learned to grow a multitude of crops and spent summers working at the Willows Ranch, east of Kingman, Arizona. It was while tending crops and livestock that Stu developed a love for the land.
He attended Agua Fria Union High School and graduated in 1958. He then attended the University of Arizona, graduating in 1963 with a Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Education and two minors: Animal Science and Agricultural Engineering. While at college, Stu enrolled in the Air Force ROTC and was commissioned into the armed services upon graduation.
Stu served his country from 1963 to 1968. Stu was stationed in Austin at the time of the Kennedy assassination, and in 1964-1965 had the honor to be on a Special Assignment as the Officer in Charge of the Presidential Transportation Affairs for President Lyndon B. Johnson. His next assignment took him to Germany. Stu achieved the rank of Captain at the time of his honorable discharge.
Following his career with the Air Force, he resumed his career as a rancher at the Willows Ranch. He managed the Willows Ranch for over 30 years, where he developed 500 acres of rangeland into irrigated pastures, executed a rest rotational grazing system that allowed Willow Creek to revegetate into the lush stream it currently is, and improved the cattle herd genetics.
After Stu “retired” from ranching, he worked in construction and was the “go-to-guy” for projects because he was known for doing a job well. After he fully retired, he became even more active in community service and poured his heart and energy into his second family: the Kingman Route 66 Rotary Club
Stu maintained a strong commitment to community service and was genuinely the happiest when he was serving others. He was an active member of the Kingman Route 66 Rotary Club, the Kingsmen, the Kingman Elks Club, and the Kingman Masonic Lodge. He held memberships and offices with the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, Arizona Cattlemen’s Association, Mohave Livestock Association, Mohave Livestock Marketing Association, the Kingman Area Chamber of Commerce, Arizona Town Hall, Project CENTRL, Mohave Utilities Commission, Boys & Girls Club of Kingman, and more.
He received a congressional appointment to the Phoenix District Bureau of Land Management Advisory Council and received gubernatorial appointments to serve on the Arizona Beef Council and the Arizona Riparian Advisory Committee. He had other appointments as well: he served on the Mohave County Extension Advisory Committee of the Mohave County Board and Supervisors and was on NAFTA Trade Corridor Committee of the City of Kingman Mayor and City Council. Stu was elected to the Mohave County Community College Board of Governors and served on this board for over 22 years, being re-elected multiple times.
His biggest source of pride was his family. He always encouraged his children and grandchildren to pursue their dreams and education and accepted nothing less from them than their absolute best effort in everything they did. Hard work, discipline, perseverance, and integrity are ingrained family values.
Stu received many awards and honors. He was a Boy Scout of America and an Eagle Scout. Other awards included the University of Arizona Lifetime Achievement Award, Founders Award from Mohave County Community College (MCC), The Paul Harris Fellow Award by the Rotary Foundation of Rotary International, Distinguished Service Citation from Rotary International, Rotary Hero from Rotary District #5495, FFA State Farmer Degree, Outstanding Service Award from Arizona Society for Range Management, Elder Statesman Award of Route 66 Rotary, and the naming of the Stuart L. and Carol Anderson Student Services Building at MCC, as well as others.
In the spirit of Stu’s love for education and service, the family is asking, in lieu of flowers, to donate to:
Route 66 Rotary Club
P.O. Box 166
Kingman, AZ 86402
Or the
University of Arizona Foundation
With H. Lynn and Marjorie M. Anderson Family Scholarship Fund written in the memo line
Mail to: Development and Alumni
Forbes 325
P.O. Box 210036
Tucson, AZ 85721-0036
To honor Stu’s love of the outdoors, a Celebration of Life Service is to be held Sunday, May 29 at 2 p.m. in Kingman, AZ, at Hualapai Mountain Park, Recreation Area #1.
