Verlene Clare Anderson

Verlene Clare Davis Anderson was born on November 15, 1959, in Fresno, California to the Rev. Ronald and Rev. Marie Davis. She moved to Safford, Arizona in August 1960 with her parents, who took the pastorate of Safford First Assembly of God Church. She went to be with her Lord and Savior and reunited with her parents and beloved husband on July 31, 2025.

Verlene attended the Safford schools and graduated from Safford High School in 1977 and Eastern Arizona College in 1979. She was employed as a work-study student at Eastern Arizona College two weeks after high school graduation. She started working full time at Eastern Arizona College in 1979 and continued for almost 30 years before retiring in 2008. At the time of retirement, her job title was Associate Director of Records and Registration. For several years, she served as a member of the Eastern Arizona College Foundation Board of Directors. 

As a teenager, she belonged to her church's young women's group called Missionettes where she became an Honor Star and won the title of Arizona Assemblies of God Missionette State Queen. She loved to collect elephant figurines, stuffed animals, jewelry, and dolls.

After dating for three years, she married the love of her life, Jerry Wayne Anderson on June 16, 1984 and was happily married until is death on December 16, 2018. 

Verlene was preceded in death by her mother, Marie Davis, in 1992; her father, Ronald Davis, in 2004 and by her husband, Jerry Anderson. She is survived by her sister, Earlene Porter (Bobby) of Pensacola, Florida; nephew, Brian Porter (Christie) of Pensacola; two nieces: Kathleen Daniels (Thomas) of North Pole, Alaska, Karen Smith (Brian) of Pensacola; sisters of the heart, Denise Moore (Chance) of Safford; and Paula Asbury of Willcox, AZ; 4 great nephews: Sean Smith, Brayden Smith, Maximus Daniels, and Levi Smith, and 2 great nieces: Sophia Daniels and Alexis Daniels. 

She loved her family deeply, especially her nephews and nieces and spoiled them rotten.

Services will be held on Tuesday, August 12, 2025 at 10:00 a.m. at the Movement Church on 1st Avenue in Safford, AZ.  She will be laid to rest next to her husband at the Safford City Cemetery following services. Funeral arrangements are under the direction of McDougal Caldwell Funeral Chapel.