Donald "Don" James Anderson, Sr., 74, departed this life on January 8, 2025, after a long, hard-fought battle against interstitial lung disease.   He was born May 26, 1950, in Scott, Louisiana, to Clifton Anderson and Ezola Glaude Anderson. His childhood was deeply rooted in the faith of his parents and filled with the joyful mischief that comes from growing up surrounded by twelve siblings and a multitude of cousins.  He graduated from Paul Breaux High School in Lafayette, Louisiana, where he first discovered his passion for wood working and building furniture.

As a young man, he followed in the footsteps of several of his fellow siblings and moved to Houston where he mastered his carpentry skills and worked on residential and commercial projects across Houston in the 1970s and 80s.   Affectionately known by friends and family as, Mr. Clean or Dapper Don, he had charm and a passion for style and conversation, which eventually led him into the car sales business where he thrived for over two decades.   In that world, he was known for always sporting an Irish flat cap and his signature ponytail, and he loved helping newcomers through their first time car buying experience.

Don also had a passion for Louisiana cooking and entertaining, especially during the holiday season; a trait and skill that he passed on to his son Christopher.  It brought him joy to drive around delivering fig preserves, crackling, and fried turkeys to his family and friends.  He never met a stranger and always welcomed the opportunity to cook a meal or do some home repair work for a neighbor.  He especially enjoyed his role as Granddaddy Don and Uncle Donald to his loving grandkids and his many nieces and nephews.  Most of all, he enjoyed spending time with his wife, Liz, who was his stalwart companion and caretaker through his illness.

Don was preceded in death by his parents: Ezola and Clifton Anderson, his siblings: Lois Anderson, Bernadette Boutte, Brenda Shepherd, Michael Anderson, and Elda Boutte.  He is survived by his siblings: Floyd Anderson, Jeanette Sigue, Reolan Anderson, Rita Delahoussaye, Kathy Victorian, Carroll Anderson, and Gerard Anderson, his children: Donald Anderson, Jr and his wife Bonnie, Violet Anderson, Kevin Anderson, Michael Dinh and his wife Patricia, and Lindzy Luong  her husband Danny, and Christopher Anderson, as well as his cherished grandchildren Kaylin, Paul, and Simone Anderson, Oliver and Elanor Dinh, and Emerson Luong.

A visitation will take place between 11:00 a.m. and 12:30 p.m., followed by a rosary and reading of the eulogy, and then a celebration of life Mass at 1:00 p.m. at St. Luke the Evangelist Catholic Church in Houston on Thursday, January 16, with a procession to follow.  Internment will take place at Forest Park East in Webster at 2:30 p.m.