James Anderson

 

James L. Anderson, Jr., 80, passed away on October 9, 2023. He was born in Birmingham, Alabama on January 2, 1943 to James L. Anderson, Sr. And Emily Almon Anderson. He moved to Austin, Texas when he was two years old. His sister Martha was born after the family moved to Austin. He graduated from Southwest Texas State College in 1967. He then went to St. Mary’s University and received his doctor of jurisprudence in 1969. He began practicing law in San Antonio following law school. He moved to Rockport, Texas in 1973. It was in Rockport that he found his home, his life long passion for airboats (who remembers Panther ball?) duck hunting and fishing and his community of family and friends. He practiced law and became a partner in Rockport Abstract & Title Company. He ran for County Attorney of Aransas County in 1976 and held that position until he retired from it in 2008. He continued practicing law in Rockport until his retirement in 2020.

 

He married Patricia Acers (Trosclair) in 1964 and they had their lovely daughter, Teryl. He married Judith Wynn (Guy) in 1969 and they had three beautiful children, Ashley, James, and Jason. He married Vicki Culver in 1984 and they built their life together in Rockport with Jim’s children making a wonderful addition to their life. Jim was still happily married to Vicki when he passed away.

 

He was a member of Rockport Lodge No. 323 AF & AM and was the Worshipful Master of the Lodge in 1976. He was also a member of Holland Lodge No. 1 in Houston as well as a member of the Order of the Eastern Star.

 

He was an avid hunter and fisherman and loved living in Lamar on St. Charles Bay. He opened a hunting club, St. Charles Rod and Gun Club in 1980 and enjoyed all aspects of running it. He became a Panther airboat dealer and was a lifelong Panther Airboat enthusiast. He loved going out on the bay in his pontoon boat and fishing with his wife and children. He also loved having crawfish boils and entertaining friends and family. One of the memorable aspects of the crawfish boils was enjoying 60’s and 70’s music especially “American Pie” by Don McLean. He was on the Board of Directors of Camp Aranzazu and helped with getting it opened and operating.

 

He did suffer a spinal cord injury in 1982 and battled the adversity of living as a quadriplegic from that time on with the loving support of his wife, Vicki. He continued to work as an attorney following his accident and maintained his position as County Attorney as well as his private law practice and his title company.

 

Anyone who knew Jim, knew him to be tenacious and steadfast, strong, boisterous, kind and loving. He is remembered best by his family with love and laughter and a lifetime of memories.

 

Jim is preceded in death by his parents, James, Sr. And Emily. He is survived by his wife, Vicki, his children, Teryl (David) Shields, Ashley (Nils) Hammerich, James L. (Susanna) Anderson, III, and Jason Anderson and his grandchildren Emily Shields, Lauritz Hammerich, Aniken Hammerich, James L. Anderson, IV and Jane Anderson, his sister Martha (David) Earle and several nieces and nephews. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Camp Aranzazu, Harbor Hospice or St. Peter’s Episcopal Church.