Roll Call Tribute

Published in Houston Chronicle on May 4, 2008

Wesley Ellington Anderson
WESLEY ELLINGTON ANDERSON of Calvert passed away Thursday evening, April 24th, 2008 at seventy-seven years of age. He was preceded in death by his infant son, Wesley, and his eldest daughter, Helen Sampson, wife of Steve. Wesley is survived by his wife Sallie Tucker; his sister Jane Mackinnon, wife of John, (deceased); his daughter Jane Manterola, wife of Alberto; his sons William, husband of Tawnya, and Tucker, husband of Stacy; his niece Karen Mackinnon; and his nephew Douglas Mackinnon, husband of Jalaine. Wesley had six grandchildren at his death, including Catherine, Tito, and Sallie Jane Manterola; Mallory Sampson; and William's daughters, Amelia and Madolyn. Wesley's great-great grandfather, Reuben Anderson, an early Robertson County planter with land on the east bank of the Brazos, first persuaded Augustus Sullivan to subdivide his adjacent land on a low bluff across the river into town lots. On May 1st, 1851, Wesley's great-grandfather, William Blackshear Anderson, purchased the first of these lots in what became the new town of Port Sullivan. Wesley was born December 26th, 1930 in Hillsboro, Hill County, Texas, to William Townsend Anderson and Marie Catherine Ellington. He graduated from Calvert High School in 1948 as a member of the regional champion Trojan football team. Wesley then attended both Texas A&M and TCU, and served his country in the early 1950s as a member of the 3307th Flight Training Squadron at Marana Air Base in Arizona, and the 3575th Air Group at Vance Air Force Base in Oklahoma. Until his passing Thursday, Wesley was engaged in the Anderson family tradition of cotton planting and cattle ranching in the Brazos Bottom begun by his great-great grandfather Reuben. Wesley devoted his entire life to his family and friends both in the Brazos Bottom and far beyond. He loved dearly the land here, and most of all the many people that made life so rich and pleasant in his beloved Calvert home. Services were held at The Church of the Epiphany in Calvert, TX. Memorials honoring Wesley may be directed to The Church of the Epiphany, P.O. Box 129, Calvert, TX 77837; The First Presbyterian Church, P.O. Box 66, Calvert, TX 77837; and The Calvert Cemetery, P.O. Box 567, Calvert, TX 77837. Memorial Funeral Home Hearne, TX 979-279-3663.