William Charles Anderson

Funeral services for William Charles Anderson will be held 10:00AM, Friday, October 17, 2025, at Hale's Memorial Chapel, in Davis with brother Randy Chapman officiating. Interment services will be held that afternoon at 2:00pm, at the Green Hill Cemetery, in Lindsay.

William Charles Anderson, AKA Ole Mean Ned Pepper, was born on October 17, 1935, in a home outside of Davis, Oklahoma on the Howell's ranch to his mother, Vernett "Blackie" Anderson. Charles was an only child and raised in the home with his mom and grandparents, Tom and Maud, "Little Granny", Anderson. People knew Charles was cherished, his mom and grandmother always made sure he had clean and ironed clothes down to his ironed underwear and socks.

Charles is preceded in death by his grandparents, Tom and Maud Anderson, mother, Vernett Anderson, son, Gary Len Anderson, and daughter-in-law Brenda Kay Webb Anderson. He is survived by his wife, El Ray Lindy Anderson, son, Charles Ken Anderson, and his daughter, Tammy Lee Anderson Wilson and Spouse Wesley Wilson. Grandchildren Nicholas and spouse Heidi, Anderson, and Ian Wilson. Lea Anderson Teves and spouse Cody and Jake Anderson and spouse Erin. Great-grandchildren Stella and Jasper Teves. Carter and Eliza Anderson and Adalynn Wilson.

One of Charles happiest, earliest memories was riding in a wagon pulled by horses next to his Grandpa, Tom Anderson, when he was 5 or 6. He spent his childhood and adolescent days riding his horse and roaming the Arbuckle Mountains. Fishing and rabbit and squirrel hunting was a favorite pastime. He was always proud of his squirrel gravy. In his adult years, his older generation of friends would come to visit and ask him to fix that squirrel gravy. Evidently, back in the day, that sustained many families, and it brought back many childhood memories. Even in the modern times, Charlie enticed the young'uns to appreciate squirrel gravy with cackleberries.

There were lean times when Charles was young. During these times, Blackie and Little Granny managed a garden and canned plenty of food and Charles was always coming home to fresh baked pies in the kitchen window. He talked about how his friends walked home from school with him to help him take advantage of his mother's and granny's cooking.

Charles was a great athlete growing up. He excelled at basketball and baseball during his school years. He had to get up at the crack of dawn and help milk cows. But he knew if he missed the bus and didn't make it to school, he wouldn't get to play sports. So, his academic achievement was that he never missed a day of school, perfect high school attendance. Growing up, Ken, Len, and Tammy were always told by others about what a great athlete Charles was. This last year, Tammy, daughter, met a lady in the Pauls Valley assisted living facility that recognized Charlie's name. She was in her late 90's. She said she used to take her son to watch Charles play basketball when he was in high school and how much they loved watching him play. At graduation, 1955, he was offered 2 Athletic scholarships: Southeastern State College and North Texas State College.

Charles decided to forgo college so he could marry his high school sweetheart, ElRay Lindy Pickens on December 24, 1955, Charles and El Ray married at the Hennepin Baptist Church in Hennepin, OK. Charles was not 21, so he had to get his mom's permission. El Ray always thought that was funny because although she was 2 years, 2 months, and 2 days younger, she did not have to get permission. Soon enough the family of two became a family of 5. Charles and El Ray had three children, Charles Ken Anderson was born March 10, 1957, Gary Len Anderson born March 3, 1960, and Tammy Lee Anderson Wilson born December 13, 1961.

After marrying, Charles had many talents and was employed in a variety of occupations. He was a carpenter, worked in retail, farmed, and an insurance salesman. Then he moved to Pauls Valley and worked managing at CR Anthony's. Charles began his career with CR Anthony in Pauls Valley in 1956, then moved to Webster City, Iowa, then to Norman, OK, then Purcell, OK and finally ended his management career at CR Anthony's in Lindsay, OK. Upon retirement, Charles and El Ray returned to Davis, OK to live on their farm in 1992. He continued to work at the Gordon White Lumber Company for several years in Davis.

Most people knew Charles was happiest bragging about his grandkids or riding horseback or working on the Anderson Ranch. He had a rugged work ethic. He was tough and encouraged everyone else to be as tough. He truly enjoyed hauling hay, fixing fences, pulling calves in the middle of the night in the cold of winter.

His pride and joy would be his grandkids. There is nothing Papa would not do for his grandkids. He would travel to basketball games, football games, band recitals, piano recitals. He would travel and go anywhere he was asked. He was also ready to rescue them if they ever wrecked a car, cheered them on at a judo competition or make sure they had groceries in their college refrigerator.

Charles always made time for family and friends. Growing up, Ken and Tammy got to go on camping trips, hunting trips, horseback rides, and trips to the ocean. Their friends were always welcomed to come along on vacations. His home was always a safe place for our friends and family if they ever needed a place to live and work. He put a roof over many people's heads and would give them a job and money. It might be fixing fences, carpentry, or working at CR Anthony's, but he would help in any way that he could. Just a couple of years ago, he picked up a couple from a gas station, who spoke very little English. They said their car broke down on the Interstate and they didn't have any money or a phone. They needed to find a car rental to get home to Texas. Charles took it upon himself to drive them to 3 different towns, gave them money, and took them home. Two weeks later, they showed up on Charlie's doorstep with homemade hot tamales, and a hug. They cried and said they have never been shown that much kindness from a stranger.

Charles continued his athleticism into adulthood. While living in Norman he played basketball with some famous basketball stars and held his own (according to him). He refereed many basketball games around southern Oklahoma and even called many fouls on his sister-in-law Linda Pickens Price. He was also well known around the Lindsay and Pauls Valley area for his pitching of fast pitch softball.

Charles was always a rancher at heart. Even while living away, he always made his way back to Davis where he eventually set up his own farm. His favorite pastime was horseback riding. He continued to go on horseback rides with friends in the Arbuckles and in Pagosa Springs, CO. He loved his horses dearly. In his final years, when his Parkinson's disease really kicked in, he continued to go to the Stockyard with his buddy Jeff Newby and promised/threatened to come home with a horse.

Charles and El Ray did their share of travelling; they enjoyed going to Mexico, Hawaii, Maine, Alaska and on cruises with the family. But nothing held a light to his time on his farm in Davis. He loved working the cattle, farming/ranching, and of course raising his horses. He developed a habit of getting up in the middle of the night to go check on the "momma cows calving" and come back in and have some coco, sugar and milk. The family continued the milk, cocoa and sugar in his last days at home. Charles lost his battle to Parkinson's Disease on Thursday, October 9, 2025.