Donald Lee Anderson (Andy) (76) of Buford, GA, departed from this world on November 7, 2023, after a heroic battle with cancer. Family and friends will forever miss his charm and wit will.

On November 14, 1946, Don was born to William and Blanche Anderson in Detroit, Michigan. While growing up in a military family, they moved around and had to give up many of their things in the moves over the years. One of Don’s favorite stories to tell was when his mother gave away his teddy bear at an early age, and he would tease her about this in the years to come. It became a running joke between the two of them. Don was in his late 40 years; she bought him another teddy bear to shut him up about how she gave away the bear.

In 1970, Don met his wife while working as an undercover detective, and she was a cashier at E.J. Korvette. Another of Don’s favorite stories he would tell everyone was how he met the love of his life, Donna. “He would start by saying I handcuffed her to the clothes rack.” After, you would give him a sideways look. He would smile and say I asked her if she would be here when I got back? He said, “She gave him a smart remark, so he handcuffed her to the clothes rack and said well, now you will be here when I get back.” In 1972, the border collie obsession started with the first one named Daisy, gifted by Donna. From here on, the bond of friendship lasted three years till he came to his senses and married Donna in 1975, where they would share 48 fabulous years.

The two of them would move from Michigan to Georgia in 1978. If you asked him why Georgia, he would say we drove south, so we did not have to shovel the rain. But the real reason he moved to Georgia was his dad managed some apartments in Stone Mountain; while visiting his father one day, he fell in love with this place and wanted to lay down roots. Through his 40-plus years in Georgia, he has called many cities home, but his favorite place to call home was Buford. He loved his country front porch, where he sat with a cigar and watched either The University of Michigan Wolverines or the Detroit Red Wings.

In 1994, Don purchased his first boat because of his love for being on the water. He made the family take a boating class, which, thankfully, we all passed. The first time we took the boat out on Lake Lanier, right after taking the wrapping off the boat, it was a challenging task for a beginner. We were caught in the worst storm, with white caps forming on the water and nothing to shield us from the hail coming down. We were racing back to the dock with Don at the helm, Donna trying to save all the seat cushions from flying out the back, and our daughter Nicole at the bow holding on for her life. While he had mastered boating and the weather on the lake, we cannot say he mastered fishing. Though he loved to take the boat out, one would only want to go fishing if you were the one on the menu, as somehow, he would catch you with his fly while casting. Or he would lose the battle with a fish watching his pole snap in two; his brister, Lee would joke with him and say that he was the one who got away and said you should stop fishing as he took half your pole.

2007 was a big year for Don. He was able to cross off two items from his bucket list. The first one to cross off was his first cruise, and two, he became a certified diver. In the following years, he completed 22 voyages with his family and ten dives, six of which were with his daughter Michelle and son-in-law Bill. He and his family spent much time traveling the country or cruising the world. One of the most talked about cruises was the transatlantic cruise he and Donna did out of South Hampton on a ten-day nonstop trip to Miami. Three days before departing South Hampton, they stayed in Paris, and swears Donna walked him in a circle three times before finding the famous chocolatier. Another funny thing he would do is tease his grandson Alexander while on cruises, saying, please refer to me as Mr. Anderson in public.

After 13 years working for Beltmann Relocation Group, Don (Andy) retired in 2018 as an account executive.

Don followed in his father’s footsteps and became a Master Mason of the 32nd Scottish Rite Freemasonry in 1986.

Donald was preceded in death by his mother and father.

Donald is survived by his wife, Donna, and his three daughters, Michelle Anderson (William), Deborah Mistor, and Nicole Warner; grandchildren, Anastasia Wojcik, Sarah Jednak (Alyssa), Margaux Mistor, Genevieve Mistor, and Alexander Warner; brother William Anderson II (Deenie) and sister Lee Anderson.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that you donate in his name to your local ASPCA or Georgia Border Collie Rescue: https://bordercollie.rescueme.org/georgia.