Robert Jay Anderson

Robert Jay Anderson died peacefully in his Mesa home surrounded by his family on November 12, 2025. He was 89 years old. Some may know him by his many nicknames, Bob, Jay, Andy, Fuzzy, and Bobby Jay.

Bob, an only child, was born in Mesa, Arizona. He graduated from Mesa High in 1954. He is preceded in death by his high school sweetheart, Marlene with whom he was married 67 years, his mother Nola when he was 18 years old, and his father Wilbur. He is survived by his 6 children Jay (Jennifer), Nola Reader (Brett), Gwen Kartchner (Kelly), Donna Ellsworth (Chris), Ron (Kris), and Bobby (Misty), 32 grandchildren, 59 greatgrandchildren with 1 on the way, and 1 great-great grandchild with another on the way.

Bob worked 45 years as a truck driver mainly with ETMF/ABF and drove over 4 million miles without an accident. He was passionate about sports, and his talents were highlighted in Church softball and basketball. When he wasn’t a player, he enjoyed being a referee which he did for 33 years. The New York Yankees were his all-time favorite team.

Bob lived a life of service to his family and within The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He had callings/assignments to serve in the organization of Young Men, Elder’s Quorum, High Priest Quorum, Ward Clerk, Bishopric Counselor, and Bishop. He and Marlene served a full-time mission for The Church in the California Fresno Mission. He was a service missionary unloading trucks at the Bishop’s Storehouse for 16 years, focused on family history for 19 years where he found over 8000 ancestors, and worked on indexing/digitizing the US censuses for over 750,000 names.

A viewing will be held Sunday, 23 November 2025, 6-8pm at Bunker’s Mortuary, 33 North Centennial Way, Mesa, AZ, and Monday, 24 November 2025, 10-10:45am at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 933 East Brown, Mesa, AZ, with funeral services to follow at 11am. Interment at the City of Mesa Cemetery.

Arrangements by Bunker’s Garden Chapel, www.bunkerfuneral.com. Should this obituary appear anywhere but bunkerfuneral.com, please check our website for accurate details and service information.