Obituary: James Canute Anderson, January 13, 1927 - September 3, 2024

James Canute Anderson died very peacefully on September 3, 2024, with family members present.  He was at the home of his daughter Moira Reynoldson in Vancouver, Washington. Moira had lovingly cared for her father for several years. Before Jim’s death, many friends had come to say goodbye to Jim. Groups of people had come from St. Andrew Catholic Church in Portland to visit and to sing with Jim. Jim was much loved, had helped so many people, and is now with our Lord.

Jim was born in Seattle, Washington on January 13, 1927. He was the eldest of two sons of Earl Canute Anderson and Catherine Elizabeth Schultz. Shortly after Jim’s birth, the family moved to the San Francisco Bay area. From 1933 to 1941, the family lived in Manila, Philippines, where Jim’s father was engaged in the import-export business.

In 1944 Jim graduated from New Trier High School in Winnetka, Illinois. Immediately after graduation at the age of 17, he enlisted in the Army Student Training Program. He served in the Army for two years, ending his active duty as a sergeant at Fort Lewis. He then attended Stanford University, where he obtained his degree in industrial engineering in June 1950.

Also in June, Jim married Elizabeth (Libby) Earnest in Bowling Green, Ohio. The couple moved to Portland, Oregon, where Jim was employed as an industrial engineer by Crown Zellerbach Co. and its division Western Wax Paper Co. The Portland area became Jim’s permanent home. He subsequently worked for Western Pine Association. This was followed by many years of employment at Tektronix in Beaverton. Given a choice of a promotion or early retirement at the age 55, Jim chose the latter in order to devote himself full time to community work.

Jim was a loving father and grandfather. He and Libby had six children. The first child, a boy, died at birth. His beloved daughter Rebecca died in 2022. He is survived by his former wife, Libby Durbin and their four children: Father John (Ernie) Anderson (wife Lynda), Sara Whitmore (husband Mark), Rachel Anderson (Theo), and Moira Reynoldson. He is also survived by his three grandchildren John Joseph Anderson, Mary Anderson, and Voss Matthew Whitmore. His younger brother Peter Anderson (wife Ann) and brother-in-law Jeff also survives him. He also had a loving relationship with Anne Douglas for many years and is survived by her two daughters Dina Arena and Angela Arena and by Angela's two children Timber Brown and Brandon Brown. He also had a very large church and adopted family. 

Jim’s life was marked by a great passion for social justice. In 1951 he and Libby became members of Friendship House, which was associated with their parish in northeast Portland. Friendship House was founded by Catherine Doherty (declared a “Servant of God” by the Vatican in 2000) and did pioneering work in interracial justice. The Friendship House in Portland was the fourth that Doherty had established in the U.S.

Through this Catholic organization, Jim and Libby became lifetime friends with Catholic members of the Portland Black community. This was a time when racial mixing was not accepted in American society.  It was the beginning of Jim’s strong passion for racial justice. He also became very active in promoting justice for migrant farm workers, especially in Washington County.

Later, Jim spent years personally helping people who were marginalized by society to find employment and housing. He purchased an old house, where he himself lived and where people could live while gaining job experience and skills. He dressed in the plain clothes of a workman.

During the latter part of Jim’s life, he concentrated on bringing disadvantaged youth up to their grade level in learning. Jim had an important role in the operation of special Saturday classes, where he worked with students, particularly in the field of math and science. He developed teaching methods to maintain the interest of students. He worked especially with youth who would shortly be entering high school. Jim spent much time tutoring at Martin Luther King Jr. Elementary School near his home in Portland. He continued this work into his nineties.

The funeral Mass for Jim will be held at St. Andrew Catholic Church, 806 NE Alberta St., at 3 p.m., Saturday, September 14. Burial will be at a later date at Mt. Calvary Catholic Cemetery in Portland where his first child is buried.