Couple celebrates 50-year anniversary

Anne and Gordon Anderson are celebrating their golden anniversary and 50 years of marriage this month.

Anne Werner grew up in Eau Claire, Wis., heading to the Northwest to attend, and graduate from, the University of Washington.

Gordon Anderson grew up in the Georgetown area of Seattle, spent a few years in the Army, and graduated from Western Washington University.

The young couple met on Alki in West Seattle — Anne was on the beach and Gordon arrived in the boat he built.

They married Dec. 18, 1959, and shortly after that, the couple built a home on Mercer Island where their first two children were born.

As Mercer Island became “too crowded,” they moved to Useless Bay on Whidbey Island in 1965 — having found the “perfect” beach. They built their new home, and welcomed a third child in 1967.

Gordon started a construction business from which his customers still won’t let him retire, and Anne spent many years teaching preschool, selling Avon, modeling, singing with friends and raising her family.

Together, the Andersons created an incredible garden along with their reputation as masterful gardeners.

It’s hard to summarize the past 50 years of the couple’s adventures to Alaska, boat trips to Canada, hiking, skiing and the stories of everything they’ve seen on Useless Bay.

Their children would like to wish them many more adventures in the years to come.

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