Iris Jean Genevieve Anderson

Iris-Jean Genevieve Anderson peacefully passed away on February 15 surrounded by family and friends from complications of pneumonia. Iris was born on September 3, 1936 to Francis and Genevieve Jiggar of Portland, the youngest of six children. Growing up she faced many personal tragedies and the family faced serious hardships, but through all of this she was able to be the first member of her family to graduate from high school in 1954. She attended Franklin and James Monroe HS, excelling in Home Economics. Following graduation she became a licensed beautician. It was during this time she met the love of her life. On June 11, 1955 she married Bill Anderson. Exactly one year later she gave birth to her first child Michael, then 10 years later she gave birth to her daughter Julie. The family moved to Corbett in 1964 and lived there until 1980 . During this time she was active in the community primarily working to improve the schools and was also a Cub Scout Den Leader. She also began a career in sales selling Singer Sewing Machines. In 1974 she decided she wanted to further her education as she had just become a business owner of Anderson Industrial Park in SE Portland. She was one of the first students at Mt Hood Community College and completed 2 years of college in Business Management. She continued to take computer classes into her 70s. In 1980 the family moved to NE Portland in the St Therese Parish. Mom loved her God and her family with all of her heart. Family meant everything to her. Her past times were shopping for her family, spending time with her family, and caring for her family. Her greatest joys over the past few years were attending her grand childrens weddings and the birth of four great grandsons. She was preceded in death by her parents, as well as her brothers Alfred, Robert, sisters Emily and Lorraine. Her older brother Charles Bernard Jiggar still resides in Portland. She leaves behind her husband of 62 years Bill, her son Mike (Debbie) Anderson of Vancouver, Daughter Julie (Michael) Sage of Portland, Grandchildren Michelle, Nicte-ha, Steven, Marco, Cameron, Kaitlin and Richelle, four great grandsons William, Jase, Paxton and Harrison, and her pups Peppy, Ginny and Sammy. Services will be held at Evergreen Memorial Gardens in Vancouver on March 3 at 12:30pm. Viewing will be on Friday March 2 from 10am to 9pm. Internment at Evergreen will follow the service on Saturday. The family suggests memorials be made to a favorite charity that serves children.

Iris Jean Genevieve Anderson

September 3, 1936 - February 15, 2018