Samuel Anderson

Born a beautiful and wild soul, Sammy was an affectionate and sensitive child. His ability to notice small changes in the environment and relate to emotions of others was alive in his personality from the beginning. He loved to hug and snuggle and always cried when his mother left. He loved the attention of his gentle twin brother, Vance, and intelligent and crafty sister, Veronica. His sweet nature, curiosity, ability to love and connect with others drew people to him. Sam knew how to smile, laugh, and empathize with others.

As a young boy, he loved Minecraft and would play for hours on end. One trip to Montana, he played Jet Pack Joyride for 8 hours straight! (not a behavior his mother enjoyed, but it worked in the car ;)

His father Don taught Sam and Vance how to make a metal forge, to hunt deer, shoot squirrels. Don taught his boys patience, commitment, and problem solving. Sam and his brother, clad in rain boots and pajamas, once hunted a squirrel out of a tree then cooked it up for dinner.

Sam had determination and passion. He wanted a dog named Kona from the local pound. The deal was, if he made him an enclosure, he could have the dog. In two afternoons, 10 year old Sam had that enclosure ready and he got his dog Kona! Sam loved children and animals. He lovingly named and held all the chickens we had. He was eager to run around and play with any dog and he loved cats.

He loved the woods and wilderness. Our family spent many hours in the outdoors, hiking, riding bikes and jumping off cliffs into lakes and rivers.....Sam was daring and usually jumped first. One summer in Montana, he got his cousins and Aunt to jump off a 30 foot cliff into a reservoir. When I'm out in the wilds and I feel trepidation to climb something or jump off a precipice I can still hear his voice "Come on Mom, do it!" He was an adventurous spirit, with an intense zest for life.

During his childhood, we had many trips to Montana, Fort Flagler and Marrowstone Island with beloved "Grammie" Carolyn. Grammie was there throughout his childhood... a loving presence. His cousins, Zoa and Elise, spent many a summer break together in Montana and backpacking in the Cascades and the Washington coast. Uncle Greg headed a trip into the Alpine lakes wilderness with the cousins that was epic. The first night there was a huge rainstorm.....all our tents got wet...not Sam though, he had opted for a hammock. He awoke in the morning high and dry and upbeat.

Winter was filled with snow and snow sports. Visits to Grandpas cabin provided lots of fond memories in Liberty, Washington. Cousins Julian, Wyatt and his twin brother, spent many hours with Sam riding mountain bikes all over Washington. There was a lot of joy and adventure in his short life.

His sensitive personality and soft heart made his world both wonderful, sacred, and difficult. During the COVID-19 pandemic he ran with some troubled youths, two of whom lost their lives to drugs and/or suicide before he lost his. He lived in the woods in Silverdale for 5 months, horrifying his family with unknowing and worry but demonstrating his resourcefulness.

Our culture, full of fear and disconnection is a difficult place for most people, especially people like Sam. His descent into addiction was a symptom of our society and I don't blame him for what happened. I know he didn't mean to overdose. I have compassion and understanding for him and others with "mental health" or "addiction" problems. How can they not struggle in this country where greed, lust, pride, social media(envy) and MORE are our creed? How does an intelligent being, a part of nature reconcile the destruction of environment, social disconnection, and rampant greed in our culture? How many people have the same struggles with anxiety that Sam had and assuage their feelings with alcohol, food, shopping, social media, pornography, or other mind numbing activities?

The last 5 years of his life were not as sweet as the first 14...but his true self was always there behind his shadow. He still spent time with his mother snowboarding and hiking in between times of relapse. He helped his Grandpa Gary buck up and chop three huge trees at the cabin. He loved his cousins, aunts, and uncles and regretted deeply the fissures his behaviors had caused in the family. At the end of his life he found sobriety and a wonderful woman, Lizzie B, whom he loved dearly and shared the most precious months of his adult life. Two adventurous souls, Lizzie and Sam spent time in the Cascades hiking and snowboarding. They had begun to hike and rock climb together. In the last 6 months of his life, Sam got healthy and began to mature. He expressed shame, remorse and guilt over his choices and I don't know if he was able to forgive himself.

His sister tried to help him until the very end.....his family loved and supported him the best they could. We all do the best we can, even when it doesn't seem to be enough. I've found it very difficult to forgive myself for the mistakes I made as mother...but forgive myself, I must.

Swim free my fish, my Sammy,
You are no longer mine.
You left a mark on this world and many hearts.....
Life will never be the same without you.
I hear your voice on the wind;
Live your life!
Jump the gap!
I love you, Mi Madre!

I love you too, Samuel Keith Anderson

I still hear your voice calling the names of those you love.......I still can see those beautiful freckles that covered your pale skin, your shiny brown hair and the hazel green eyes you inherited from your Grandmother Vicki.

Sam was preceded in death by his Grandmother Vicki Parker. He is survived by his mother, Kathy, father, Don, sister, Veronica, brother, Vance, stepmother, Kate, Grammie Carolyn, Grandpa Gary, Uncle Greg, Aunt Steph, Aunt Natalia, Uncle Andy, Uncle Don and Aunt Marifi, Cousins Zoa, Elise, Julian, Wyatt, Kayla and Nellie. He left behind his mate, Lizzie, and many friends....

One final note... in Sam's memory, I want to encourage everyone to find love for themselves and love for others in these difficult times.