A celebration of the life and legacy of Kent Anderson of Monroe, Louisiana, will be held at 11 A.M., Thursday, December 16, 2021, at St. Paul’s United Methodist Church in Monroe. The Rev. R.B. Moore will welcome friends and family. Dr. David Uth will deliver the message and eulogy.  The family will receive friends from 9:30 A.M. until service time in the church parlor. Entombment will follow at Mulhearn Memorial Park Mausoleum. Services are under the direction and care of Kilpatrick Funeral Home of Monroe.

Anderson was a prominent Monroe banker, businessman, civic and educational leader, who died December 12, 2021. The self-made man gave back to the educational institution he always gave credit for his impressive success, Louisiana State University. Born in Monroe in 1926, Anderson graduated from Ouachita Parish High School in 1944 and enlisted in the U.S. Navy for two years before enrolling into LSU in the fall of 1946. While at LSU, Anderson made a name for himself as a member of Delta Kappa Epsilon fraternity and the top men’s leadership honorary, Omicron Delta Kappa, or ODK. He graduated in 1949 with a bachelor’s degree from the E.J. Ourso College of Business. LSU is also where he met his life partner, Yvonne Lusk Anderson, passing away to join her in Heaven on what would have been their 68th wedding anniversary. His wife died two years ago. Anderson has said that LSU was part of his being. “It is my heart and soul,” he often said. LSU was a huge recipient of Anderson’s time and contributions. He was also a committed founding member of St. Paul’s United Methodist Church. Anderson established a family legacy at LSU that is unparalleled by serving on the boards of LSU Foundation and the LSU Alumni Association; he served as chairman in 1976. His sons, Mark and Scott, followed in their father’s footsteps with a dedication to LSU. The sons graduated from LSU, with Mark later serving as chairman of the LSU Foundation and Scott serving as chairman of the LSU Alumni Association.  Anderson was named LSU’s Alumnus of the Year in 1991 and was inducted into the LSU Alumni Association Hall of Distinction. He also served his University as a member of the prestigious LSU Board of Supervisors, representing District 5. Anderson was the recipient of the St. Francis Medical Center’s Mother Gertrude Hennessy Humanitarian Award. He was instrumental in the development of the Lod Cook Alumni Center and Hotel. In business, Anderson served as vice president of Olinkraft Inc. (now Graphic Packaging International Inc.) and supervised the operations of 10 container plants and 1,200 personnel until his retirement. He was vice chairman and director of First American Bank of Monroe (now Regions Bank). Anderson and his sons own Mid South Extrusion, an industry leading plastics manufacturing company in Monroe. His community leadership included the past president of United Way and memberships in the Rotary Club (Paul Harris Fellow), Boy Scouts, Girls Scouts, Ducks Unlimited, and the Gulf Coast Conservation Association. Anderson’s dream was to have a place where he could enjoy the outdoors and wildlife with family, friends and business associates. Over the last 45 years, Anderson grew McGowan Brake and the surrounding land to support this dream. The men who helped bring his vision to life were Larry Savage, Kenny Ribbeck, and Tommy Tuma. Their expertise in wildlife management and biology guided the way. Along with his love for hunting, Anderson spent and enjoyed three decades entertaining at his gulf coast fishing properties in Dulac, Louisiana. His best days were either spent in a duck blind, a deer stand, fishing on the gulf or at an LSU football game.

Kent was preceded in death by his wife, Yvonne Lusk Anderson; his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Glen Anderson; brothers Glen and Kerry Anderson; and his daughter-in-law, Rosemary Upshaw Anderson. Kent is survived by his sons, Mark Anderson and Scott Anderson; grandchildren, Michelle Yvonne Anderson Thompson and her husband, Phillip, Claudia Elyse Anderson, Ainsley Anderson Herlevic and her husband, Vincent, and Mark Kent Anderson Jr.; and great-grandchildren, Oliver and Juliette Thompson and Burns Herlevic; sisters, Sharon Ryberg, Susan Wilson, Kristen Oden and her husband, Greg; and brother, Robert Anderson; and a host of family and friends.

The family would like to extend a special thanks to his caregivers, Alvin Gray, Jill Ross, Don Smith, Kenny Mason, Darrell Cook, and his executive assistants Peggy Harbor and Debbie Garner.

Pallbearers will be James W. Moore, Eugene Montgomery, Jay Babb, Edwin Craft, Gregg Cordaro, Bob Lane, Ben Marshall IV, Trey Nelson, Richard Crowe, Woody Ledbetter, Ryan Sartor, and Bill Boles Jr. Honorary pallbearers are Dr. Charlie Roberts, Dr. Ralph King, Joe Ledoux, J.B. Landry, Ben Price, Guy Smith, Walter Hastings, Randy Ewing, Jerry Jones and George Campbell.

Many years ago, Kent Anderson walked through the gates of LSU and was awed by the beautiful oaks, the campus, and the tradition of excellence. He took his experiences in life and built a family legacy and tradition that will continue forever.  That is the inspiring part about Anderson; he wanted to make a positive impact. If anyone needed help, he did his best to assist. Many students pass through the gates of LSU — much as he did that first day in 1946. The potential to follow in his path lies within us all. He enjoyed helping behind the scenes and making good things happen for others. For this reason, the family requests that in lieu of flowers, memorials be made to the LSU Alumni Association, 3838 West Lakeshore Dr., Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA 70808.

Online condolence messages may be sent to the family at www.kilpatrickfuneralhomes.com.

Kilpatrick Funeral Homes

Monroe, LA.