Memorial Services for Letitia (Tish) M. Anderson, 85, of Ada are 11:00 a.m. Monday at The First United Methodist Church in Ada, Rev. Brian Mathews will officiate. The memorial service will follow a family burial service at Rosedale Cemetery.
Tish passed away Wednesday, July 20, 2016 at her home. She was born in Oilton, Oklahoma on October 26, 1930 to Asa J. Swoap and Pearl Broderick - Swoap. Tish was preceded in death by her Father, Mother, husband Jerry Anderson, a brother Bill & wife Barbara Swoap.
She is survived by two sons, Mike Anderson, of Ada and Ron Anderson and wife Lora of Ada; grandchildren, Taylor Maynard and husband Josh of Oklahoma City, Nick and Cody Anderson, Ada; brother, Jim Swoap and wife Dee Dee, Savannah, Tennessee; nephews, John Swoap, Savannah, Tennessee, and Justin Swoap and wife Dottie, of Memphis, Tennessee.
Tish was a 1948 graduate of Duncan High School. Attended Cameron College and served as Freshman and Sophomore Representative for Student Senate. Tish was Queen of the Engineering Club, attendant for Homecoming Queen and was President of the Pep Club.
It was at Cameron that she met her one and only true love Jerry Anderson. They married in Duncan January 20, 1950, later moved to Ada and received their bachelor degrees at East Central University.
Following graduation they spent one special year at Stratford making lifelong friends. Moving to Blackwell they spent four years bonding with that community. They then moved to Panhandle A&M in Goodwell, Oklahoma which was home for eleven years. Nearby Guymon was the birthplace for their son's Mike and Ron.
Although difficult to leave the Panhandle, it was time to return home to Ada and be closer to their parents. In 1967, Ada and ECU became their final home.
Tish continued her education at ECU earning her Master’s Degree in Elementary Education. It wasn't long when she was hired to teach Junior High Students in a variety of subjects at Byng Schools. Tish was a devoted Christian and an active member of the First United Methodist Church for over 49 years. She taught Sunday School Classes for grades Kindergarten through High School and sang in the church choir. She also served as Cub Scout Den Mother for both sons and worked as a Girl Scout Leader for high school girls. She belonged to the faculty wives club at both Panhandle A&M and East Central. She was a member of the Beta Sigma Phi, PEO, Retired Educators Association and Healthy Heart Club. Tish was named Byng Schools “Teacher of the Year” in 1982.
Tish and Jerry's two sons Mike and Ron were the most special loves of their lives. Tish regretted so much that Jerry did not get to know and love his three grandchildren Taylor, Nick and Cody as she did. They were so precious to her.
Tish and Jerry made so many friends while in Stratford, Blackwell, the Panhandle, Ada and ECU. She rarely missed a Panhandle reunion since leaving in 1967. But never in her wildest dreams did she imagine that she would fall totally in love with 7th and 8th graders. She would always refer to them as "my kids", even when she would see them years later. Tish deeply loved her extended family of Byng faculty, staff and students.
Bearers will be Mike, Ron, Cody and Nick Anderson, Josh Maynard and Jack Sanders.
Honorary Bearers: Byng Coaches, Staff and Students, ECU Tiger Coaches, Staff and Players, Panhandle Coaches, Staff and Players, Blackwell Coaches, Staff and Players, Stratford Coaches, Staff and players.
In lieu of flowers the family has asked donations be made to the Byng Excellence in Education Foundation, P. O. Box 2588, Ada, OK 74821 in memory of Tish Anderson.
Obituaries may be viewed and online condolences sent to criswellfh.com.
Criswell Funeral Home, Ada
