Ethel Mae Anderson

Ethel Mae Davis Anderson, age 83, passed away the morning of January 31st, 2015 from natural causes in her own home. Since her husband, Donald passed away in June 2013, Ethel managed to live quite well independently on her own, with regular visits and assistance from son Eric and daughter Lorri who also reside in Idaho Falls. Ethel was preceded in death by husband, Donald J Anderson; his parents, Olga and Stan Anderson; her parents, Cecil Hayball Davis and Ethel Johnston Davis; sister Charmayme LaRae Davis Sylvester, twin brothers Billie Joy Davis and Bobbie Jay Davis, brother-in-law James Sylvester, and sisters-in-law Norma Long Davis and Fay Ingram Davis. Ethel is survived by daughter Lisa Anderson and husband Rick Cimball; daughter Lorri Anderson; and son Eric Anderson. She is survived by eight grandchildren: Corey Cimball, Cameron Cimball, Brandon Odum, Megan Odum Boxx, Shelby Odum Despain, Schyler Odum, Lauren Armstrong, and Alek Anderson; and one great-grandchild Analeigh Boxx. She was expecting three more great-grandchildren this summer. Ethel Mae Davis was born on the 10th of August 1931 in Logan, Utah. She was the youngest of four children. Her father was a candy salesman and her mother ran a boarding house in their home on 4th Avenue North. The family moved to Idaho Falls in 1941 during the beginning of World War II. Ethel spent her afternoons after school riding horses and spent her summers helping cook and clean on the family farm in Arbon Valley under the guidance of her Aunt Stella. Ethel was fairly independent in her early adult years as her mother worked fulltime in dress shops and in the Idaho Falls Elks Lodge and her father continued to conduct candy sales and produce hand-created ad banners for local businesses. In high school, she was active in the LDS church, served as primary teacher and sacrament chorister, and graduated from seminary. Ethel also spent time with Charmayme in Salt Lake City and Idaho Falls. Ethel attended vocational classes in Salt Lake City and junior college classes at Ricks. Upon graduation with her associate's degree, Ethel began working in the secretarial pool at the Atomic Energy Commission site. She was promoted to the role of Executive Secretary in Security and, in October 1953, married Donald J Anderson. Donald's parents and Ethel's parents both lived on 10th Street in Idaho Falls, one block away from each other; Donald's father and Ethel rode the same bus to the site. Ethel was smart, fun-loving, tenacious, and a stickler for good grammar. She had a strong work ethic and an adventurous and courageous spirit. She was known for her devotion to her parents, her sense of humor, her sense of purpose, and her stylish dress habits. She loved playing cards, watching old movies, spoiling her dogs, and cooking for family and guests. Ethel and Don had three children: Lisa Cody was born in October of 1957. Lorri Kay was born in June of 1960. Don and Ethel, hoping for a boy, gave birth to Eric Kurt in September of 1961. By 1966, Don had left the Idaho Transportation Department to work with RML-BRJ consulting engineers in South Vietnam, building airbases and roads for the U.S. Air Force. Although the entire family would join Don in future international assignments, Ethel and the children stayed behind in Idaho Falls while Don completed his Vietnam-war era assignment. During 1966 and 1967, Ethel acted as single parent and managed the household, grew vegetable gardens, took on freelance secretarial assignments, and kept track of three active children. She survived aggressive back surgery while Don was away. She maintained very close ties with her parents and parents-in-law, whether she was in Ammon in their first home or on assignment overseas. Ethel met Don in Hawaii upon his return from Vietnam for a well-deserved vacation and reunion. She and the children joined Don on his subsequent assignments in Thailand, Tanzania, South Africa, and Jamaica. Although Ethel had never expected such a life, she seemed to truly enjoy and exploit the advantages that overseas life brought. Ethel blossomed as executive wife and "hostess with the mostess." She entertained contractors, engineers, and political attachés. Additionally, she acted as Executive Support in Tanzania, assisting in office and recruiting activities. Ethel spent her time socializing with other engineering and contracting wives, shopping and attending to household and garden staff, and raising the kids. She, Don, and the children enjoyed travelling through Asia and Europe in between overseas assignments. She appreciated the tulip fields of Holland, the architecture of Versailles, the museums of London, the Moulin Rouge of Paris, and the ballet and caviar (and generous hospitality) of the Moscow citizens. Although Ethel enjoyed her freedom and independent life overseas, she did keep a watchful and earnest eye on her children, ensuring they were hard-working, respectful, and studious. She illustrated her courage and her lust for adventure as she joined Don and colleagues on safari in Africa, commandeering Land Rovers and herding animals or tending to camp while the hunters tracked game. In South Africa, Ethel helped entertain the family on weekends when the children returned from boarding school. She would bake, cook American favorites, play cards, listen to music and radio shows, tell stories of her youth. By 1974, the family had returned stateside and the children attended local high schools and universities. In 1988 Don and Ethel retired to Idaho Falls. Ethel enjoyed collecting crystal and china (she was a renowned thrift shop aficionado), tending flower and tomato gardens, barbecuing, and visiting with her growing numbers of grandchildren. She survived non-Hodgkin lymphoma in 2001, a fight she met with courage and circumspection. In 2003, she fell tending to her famous patio tomato trellis and broke her hip. Ethel dedicated herself to good health and healing, and, luckily, her hip mended well enough for her to tour Washington D.C. the following summer. She so enjoyed visiting with her daughters and seeing the monuments, particularly the FDR Memorial. Just last September, Ethel returned from a visit to Seattle where she hit Indian restaurants, a casino, and vintage shops. Of late, Ethel received assistance and care from family friend Sara Warren; the family is so grateful to Sara for her support and her devotion to Ethel. Services will be held at 11a.m. Saturday, February 7, 2015 at Buck-Miller-Hann Funeral Home, 825 E. 17th Street in Idaho Falls. Burial will follow in Rose Hill Cemetery. A viewing for family and friends will be held from 6p.m. to 8p.m. Friday and one hour prior to the service Saturday at the funeral home. Online condolences may be left at www.buckmillerhann.com.

Service Details.

Visitation

When: Friday, February 6th, 2015
Location: Funeral Home
Address:

Second Visitation

When: Saturday, February 7th, 2015
Location: Funeral Home
Address:

Service

When: Saturday, February 7th, 2015
Location: Funeral Home
Address:

Interment

Location: Funeral Home
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