Laurie Marie Anderson spent her days devoted to family and friends, always generous with her time and causes that brought others happiness.

She died July 8 in a traffic accident on Mark West Springs Road in Santa Rosa when her sport utility vehicle collided with a big- rig. She was 74.

"She was just like the most wonderful woman. She was a good friend," said her daughter, Kristie Gross of Santa Rosa. "What really comes to mind is how much I'm going to miss her."

Gross said her mother "loved her grandchildren to distraction" and was constantly providing books for them to read, a tradition passed on from her own grandfather. As a young girl she received a book from her grandfather every month on the 13th, marking the day she was born, Jan. 13, 1929.

She was the only child of Lawrence Edward Wheeler and Nevada Tabor Wheeler.

She graduated from Oakland High School in 1946 and attended UC Davis for two years, before returning home to Oakland, where she would meet her future husband, Clarence Hjalmar Anderson. They were married Aug. 21, 1949, and spent most of their 53 years of marriage together on their Forestville ranch. He preceded her in death.

Together they raised sheep and became active in 4-H, where she served as a community 4-H leader. "My dad had the sheep but my mom is the one who doctored them," said Gross, noting that her mother would consult veterinarians, but was not afraid to stitch up the sheep herself if the dogs got to them.

Anderson worked for several companies as a bookkeeper. She also spent time researching family history, making several trips with her husband to Sweden and around the United States to find lost cousins. She also embraced technology and was not afraid to try the latest advancement.

She and her husband were members of the Swedish Vasa order, Linnea Lodge No. 504 of Petaluma.

In addition to her daughter, she is survived by two sons, Erik Anderson of Paradise and Olaf Anderson of Forestville; seven grandchildren; brother-in-law John "Buzz" Anderson; nieces, nephews and cousins.

A funeral service will be Thursday, 11 a.m. at the Parent- Sorensen Mortuary, 301 S. Main St., Sebastopol. A visitation will be held Wednesday from 5 to 8 p.m. at the mortuary.

Memorial contributions may be made in Laurie Anderson's name to the 4-H Foundation of Sonoma County, 6445 Commerce Blvd., Rohnert Park, 94928 or to the Linnea Lodge No. 504 Scholarship Fund, c/o Ruth Duffy, 233 Valley Oaks Drive, Santa Rosa, 95409.