Peggy Jean Anderson

Peggy Jean White Anderson, 90, of Pocatello, Idaho, passed away on May 24, 2026, following an extended illness.

Peggy was born on July 24, 1935, in Pocatello to William Allen White and Florence Laura Floyd White. The third child of four, Peggy grew up packed into a little house on W. Lovejoy St. Later the family moved to a roomier home on Hillcrest Dr. on the west bench. She attended Emerson Elementary and Irving Jr. High and graduated from Pocatello High School in 1953. Peggy always worked. First as a “soda jerk” at a local drugstore and then at the phone company. Her great adventure occurred when she was asked to serve as an administrative assistant to Idaho Senator Henry Dworshak in Washington D.C. While in Washington, her parents came to visit. They marveled at her poise and fearlessness as she showed them around D.C. as well as N.Y.C. like a professional tour guide. Their visit culminated in Peggy’s distinctive award as the Cherry Blossom Princess for Idaho. Her honor included a parade and awards ceremony.

Peggy’s love of art began early. Her father worked as a machinist at the Union Pacific Railroad. In his spare time, he carved wood sculptures. So, with a self-taught outsider artist in the house, Peggy’s curiosity about art piqued and her own inherent talent was noticed. With encouragement from her father and teachers, she began to produce work, first by drawing, then painting. Her decades long artistic career garnered several awards in juried shows and inclusion in many exhibitions throughout the region. She excelled in oil painting, watercolor, and delicate China painting.

Peggy met her future husband, Floyd Miller Anderson, in a Sunday school class of second graders taught by her grandmother. Their romance blossomed years later after Peggy returned to Pocatello from Washington, D.C. On August 9, 1956, Peggy married the love of her life in a double wedding ceremony shared with Peggy’s sister, Gloria White, and William Cottle. Together, Peggy and Floyd built a beautiful life centered on family, creativity and community, welcoming their daughters, Kristy and Lisa, and later treasuring their grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Peggy continued to work in their early years of marriage, first as an administrative assistant to the Division Manager at the Idaho Power Company and then for the Mineral Development Department of the F.M.C. Corporation. Peggy would continue to make art, taking workshops and classes all while being a very active mom. Floyd kept very busy owning and managing gas stations and then later opening the Floyd Anderson Tire Center on 9th and Oak Streets.

Always supportive of Peggy’s artistic talents, Floyd created an exhibition area within the tire store for her oil paintings, connecting it to a studio. What began as a modest display gradually expanded as Peggy added gift items to compliment her artwork. Then in 1971, she officially opened The Cinnamon Tree, a retail gift shop INSIDE the tire store. The unique pairing brought people in, but it was Peggy’s skills in merchandising that kept them coming back. Her creative juices fed into the offerings and displays of unique items sold in the store. Both daughters worked for their parents at an early age, learning business and sales skills. Even Floyd’s retired father, Rusty got in on the action, managing both businesses’ accounting. Slowly, but surely, the gift shop took over additional sections of the tire store’s showroom floor. With shared entrepreneurial vision of a niche market opportunity, Floyd and Peggy eventually transformed the entire tire store into the beloved Cinnamon Tree Gift and Collectibles.

Active in the community, Peggy volunteered as a founding member of the YMCA Art Center that later became the Pocatello Art Center. Through the years, she served on the board, as Gallery Chair, plus many offices and committees. She also contributed her time and talents to the St. Anthony Hospital Guild; Chapter AK P.E.O. (a philanthropic educational organization); Soroptimist International of Pocatello; Seekers (an organization dedicated to antiques including the study of their historical significance, preservation, and restoration); Porcelain Artists of Southeast Idaho; Idaho State Civic Symphony. Donated work includes illustrations and calligraphy for the St. Anthony Hospital Guild Cookbook, a painted violin for an ISU Symphony fundraiser, and many fully decorated contributions to the Festival of Trees.

Peggy enjoyed playing golf and bowling. But in general, exercise was not her thing. “I’m allergic to exercise,” she would quip. League bowling one night a week for 25+ years, Peggy racked up 200 and above games, each adding a pin to her already heavy-laden bowling shirt. More bling! Golf became a great family affair with her children, sisters, brother, and their spouses. The Cottles even created a golfing tournament for the whole family.

A beautiful woman, inside and out, Peggy’s warm smile and generosity complimented her many love languages. Gift giving was one of them. Long before she created the gift shop, Peggy greeted each occasion with a gift in hand or with an armful. Peggy possessed an elegant style in everything she touched, and her fashion sense became a sort of trademark— a love language to herself. Never appearing without a perfectly coordinated outfit, Peggy just simply dressed up. It’s what she did. She loved fashion and shopping. She often modeled for local dress shops and department stores, including Camille’s, Modern Deb, the Paris, and Block’s, appearing numerous times in the Idaho State Journal.

Her beauty inside just couldn’t help but shine in her kindness to others, in written correspondence, and with her gift of making others feel special. Her inner splendor blossomed in her artwork. She expressed emotions and wonder in every flower, landscape, and creature she painted. The delicate rose, the sparkles of a reflective lake, the exquisiteness of a barn’s worn wood, would be celebrated in the most loving ways.

Peggy was preceded in death by her parents and three siblings: Her brother: William White, sisters: Joy Alexander, and Gloria Cottle. She is survived by her daughters, Kristy Gordon (Bret), Lisa Anderson (Lon Durrant); granddaughter, Danielle Gordon (Samm), great-grandson, Beau Brooks Gordon; grandson, Taylor Gordon (Destini), great-granddaughter, Marlow Mae Gordon. Also surviving are Mrs. Janet (William) White and Mr. William Cottle, along with Jeannie Emerson, Floyd’s sister. In addition there are eight surviving nieces and nephews.

The family extends heartfelt gratitude to Grace Assisted Living and Heritage Hospice for their compassionate care. The family encourages others to consider organ donation. Floyd gratefully received a life-saving kidney transplant in 2002.

Please join the family to celebrate Peggy’s life at a ceremony on Friday, June 26, 2026, at 11:00 a.m. at the First United Methodist Church, 200 N 15th Ave., Pocatello, Idaho.

Memorial contributions may be made to: Russell and Jeannette Anderson Scholarship for Music and/or Athletics.

Memories and condolences may be shared by visiting the Guestbook below.