from the USTA Communications Department

Columbus, OH — Merrill Orr Anderson, 73, of Newman, Ill., and Weslaco, Texas, died Feb. 2, 2013, at the Aurora House Hospice after a lengthy battle with cancer.

Mr. Anderson was born in Broadlands on May 21, 1939, a son of Harold Orr Anderson and Margaret Gore Anderson. He married Lyn Coolley in 1962.

He graduated from ABL High School in 1957 and attended the University of Kentucky on a basketball scholarship.

He was a member of Troop B, 1st Recon Sqdn, 106 Artillery.

Mr. Anderson was a farmer in the Broadlands area and raised Simmental cattle and Standardbreds. He acquired his auctioneers license in 1962 in Decatur, Ill., and was an auctioneer, selling purebred hogs, cattle, Standardbreds and Arabian horses.

He was inducted into the Marketeers of the Year Hall of Fame at the Denver Livestock Show on Jan. 19, 2013.

Mr. Anderson is survived by his son, James (Jim) Coolley Anderson; granddaughter, Margaret (Meg) Cristina Coolley Anderson; and a special friend, Nancy Brady. He was preceded in death by his parents; and his wife.

Funeral services will be held at Joines-Appleby Funeral Home in Newman, Ill., on Monday (Feb. 11) at 10 a.m. Visitation will be Sunday (Feb. 10) from 4-8 p.m.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Newman American Legion Post 201, Newman, IL or the Aurora House Foundation, 2646 W. 18th St. in Weslaco, TX.