08/25/2026
Moody (Andy) Lavern Anderson
January 22, 1942 – August 23, 2026
Moody Anderson, beloved son, husband, father, grandfather, brother, friend, and neighbor, passed away peacefully on August 23, 2026. Born on January 22, 1942, in Hurricane Mills near Waverly, Tennessee, he remained deeply connected to his hometown throughout his life and was especially happy to return to Waverly in retirement.
He was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Jill Rose Whitley Anderson, with whom he shared many years of life and love.
To his children, he was simply Daddy. To his grandchildren, he was Papa. He is survived by his daughter, Colleen Anderson Kolf, her husband, Peter Kolf, and their children, Brielle, Graham, and Keegan; and his son, Jon Anderson, his wife, Robin Anderson, and their children, Augustus and Sage. He was much loved by his family and will be deeply missed.
A gifted storyteller with a quick wit, he could make people laugh and keep them listening. He was exceptionally intelligent and spent his professional life putting that intelligence and knowledge to work. His career culminated in serving as an operations instructor for nuclear power plants, primarily with the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA), while also taking him around the world, including several years working in Cape Town, South Africa.
He had a remarkable ability to do just about anything well. Whether playing pool, darts, or ping pong, riding dirt bikes, tending a garden, or working with his hands, he brought the same natural skill, determination, and competitive spirit to everything he did. He loved fishing, hiking, backpacking, and camping, and he carried with him a lifelong sense of adventure.
His years in the Air Force were another important chapter of his life. Stationed in England as a young man, he made the most of his time there, riding his bicycle throughout the country and, naturally, finding plenty of opportunities to play darts and drink a pint. He loved telling stories from those years, and those stories became part of the family history he so generously shared.
Perhaps what people will remember most about him, however, was how giving he was. He was the person you could call when you needed help. He would lend a hand with yard work, fix something that was broken, tend a neighbor’s garden, lend money when someone was in need, or simply share vegetables from his own garden. He gave freely of his time, his skills, his resources, and himself. He never seemed to need much recognition for any of it; helping people was simply who he was.
He had a special fondness for Waverly, the place where his story began, and returning there in retirement brought him great happiness. Surrounded by familiar places and the memories of a lifetime, he was able to enjoy the community and home that had always meant so much to him.
He leaves behind not only his family and friends, but countless stories, acts of kindness, lessons, laughter, and memories that will continue to be shared for generations. He was a smart man, a talented man, a funny man, and above all, a deeply loving and generous one.
He was much loved. He will be greatly missed. And he will always be Daddy and Papa.
A visitation for Mr. Anderson will be held on Thursday, August 27, 2026, at Luff-Bowen Funeral Home in Waverly beginning at 5:00 P.M. until 7:00 P.M. The family has asked that no one brings flowers or food, only their presence. There will be no memorial service to follow visiting hours.
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