Sunrise, April 14, 1944 — Sunset, September 8, 2025
Gayle Earl Lee Anderson, affectionately known as “Flashman,” passed away peacefully on September 8, 2025, at the age of 81 at Regions Hospital in Saint Paul, MN.
Born on April 14, 1944, in Independence, Kansas, Gayle was the eldest of three children born to Beverely Juanda Jacobs of Independence, KS, and Linus Albert Anderson of Galveston, TX.
He attended elementary and high school in Independence, moving on to college in Pittsburg, KS, where he received his AA degree. Gayle later pursued higher education at Concordia College in Saint Paul, MN. Gayle earned the nickname “The Professor” in Kansas because of his scholastic abilities and a mind like a steel trap, and as “Flashman” Photography, and “Touche’ Turtle” among his Minnesota close buddies.
Gayle was a longtime resident of the St. Paul/Maplewood area. He pursued his dream of being a photographer. He was self-taught and became well known in the Twin Cities area and Wisconsin as Flashman “I want to shoot you,” photographing weddings, graduation pictures, banquets, aerial view pictures, and the Baptist Convention, along with other events.
Gayle loved people and it showed in his candid shots and posed pictures. His standard greeting to women he met was “Hello Pretty Lady,” not to flirt, but he said everyone needs to hear something good that just might make their day. It was easy to like him at first meeting, and it did not take much longer to love him, his sense of humor, and his jokes that often caused his nephews and nieces to groan “Oh Uncle Gayle.” He was always telling jokes and changing kids’ names: Dana was Deeda, Kelli was Pig Pen, Toria was Tornado, Alex was Ajax, Jameliah was Jfaye, April was June, and Jeremiah was Bear. He was full of love and was loved in return.
He was the editor of the MSR (Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder) for many years when it was still two newspapers, the Minneapolis Spokesman and the St. Paul Recorder. Drawing upon his strong foundation in English, he developed into a truly remarkable writer. He was known for writing The BLUES column. This was testament to skills he mastered early on; in other words, he was a master storyteller. His writing was eloquent and articulate. He was the manager of Oxford swimming pool for many years. He was an avid golfer and could brag that he actually made a hole in one.
Gayle loved being a sports official. He found his calling on the court. To many, Gayle was a husband, neighbor, or friend, but to many young athletes, coaches, and fellow officiants he was the keeper of the rules, the one in the black-and-white stripes who helped bring order and integrity to the game we all loved. While he officiated a little football and baseball, it was basketball where he truly shined. He knew that the best games were where the focus was on players, not the officials. He took great pride in making sure the game moved smoothly and fairly. He was a teacher showing young athletes what it meant to compete with honor.
He was preceded in death by mother, Beverly Carroll; stepfather, Laurel Carroll; father, Linus Anderson; brothers Fred (Freddy) Anderson, Arthur (Artie) Carroll, William (Billco) Carroll; mother- and father- in-law Janet and Willie P. McCoy Sr; and sister-in-law Sandra P. McCoy Gaither.
He leaves to mourn his loving wife of 38 years Mazel “May” “Princess” McCoy Anderson, who honored her vows “in sickness and health” as over his short span of illness she lovingly cared for him each and every day; also his son, Kevvan J. Anderson; niece/daughter, J. Monique Thompson; sister Linda Anderson-Hill (Michael Hill ); grandchildren Ahnna Simone Anderson, Kevvan J.Anderson (2K); godchild/great niece Toria McCoy Thompson; nieces and nephews Dana Rivers Rosales (Giovanni), Kelli Rivers Vukelich, nephew/godchild Nicholas (Nicky) Vukelich, Keysha King, Yolanda Samuels, Vanessa Meyer (Eric), Rachel Person (Roy), Ayinde and Ahmad Carroll, Freddie Lyles, Kelly Proctor, Megan McCoy, Amy and Tiffany McCoy, half brothers Linus (Deborah) Anderson, Levit (Gail) Anderson, Lloyd (Audra) Anderson, Dwight Anderson from Houston and Galveston, TX and Baton Rouge, LA; sisters-in-law Carolyn Carroll (Atlanta) and Claire Carroll (Eden Prairie, MN); brothers-in-law Willie P. McCoy Jr. (Evelyn) (Jamestown, NC), Mario L. McCoy (Concord, NC); godchildren Aria C. Gayden-Louis (Jermey), Jameliah Johnson (Julius), and Jeremiah Johnson; and a host of cousins, great nephews and nieces, and great-great nephews and nieces, and extended family and friends.