Iona Anderson

Iona Lee Anderson

80, passed away October 6, 2023, in Missoula, Montana.

She was born January 16, 1943, in Billings, Montana to Betty and Robert Anderson. After graduating from Billings Senior High, she moved to the beautiful Oregon Coast where she met her first husband, Gary Graves, and had two daughters.

In 1976, Iona and her daughters moved back to Missoula, Montana where she started working at the local 9-1-1 Emergency Call Center as a dispatcher. She became the 9-1-1 supervisor and worked closely with the Montana legislature to pass a bill ensuring that everyone had access to a free 9-1-1 service, which eventually became a nation-wide standard. She spent many wonderful years in West Virginia with her previous husband, Neil Bucklew. She made her way back to the Oregon Coast where she spent her golden years. Iona was an entrepreneur and enjoyed numerous adventures in her life. She was known to many for sporting red shoes, red hair and red lipstick and keeping her family and friends in her golden circle.

She was preceded in death by her mother, father and brother, Guy Anderson. She is survived by her sister, Betty (Rainy) Anderson; her brothers, John, Roger, and Robbie Anderson; her daughters, Gayle (Graves) Johnston and Cara (Graves) Simpson; four grandchildren, five great grandchildren and numerous nieces, nephews, and great nieces and nephews.

There will be a celebration of her life held on Saturday, October 28^th.  You may contact Garden City or her daughter Gayle through FB or Messenger for the details of location and time.