George "Andrew" Anthony

George “Andrew” Anthony, 52, loving and amazing husband, dad, son, uncle, brother, and teacher, passed away peacefully on December 25, 2022 in Millcreek, Utah, holding his sweetheart’s hand. Born on June 13, 1970, to Jeanne Kay and George Anthony in Monticello, Utah, Andrew came into the world with a splash and a bang. George was in the army and stationed in Fort Bragg, N.C., while Jeanne was with her parents and very pregnant. On her trip to the final check-up before Andrew was due, Jeanne slipped in the rain and broke her femur - giving her the “pleasure” of delivering him with a huge cast on her leg. Andrew grew up in West Valley City. He was homeschooled until he started middle school at Kennedy Jr. High, where he was nominated “Crusader of the Month” - you can still see his picture up in the halls. (His son, Eddie, enjoyed seeing his young father’s face above his locker his whole 8th grade year.) Andrew then graduated from Skyline High School in 1988. After high school, Andrew served a mission with the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, in the Spain, Las Palmas mission. His best friend, Roger, was working at KeyBank with a girl named Michelle. One day, Roger was writing a letter to Andrew. When hearing that he was writing to a missionary, Michelle said to tell him “Hi” - Andrew always said that this is when their love story began. After returning from his mission, Andrew would visit Roger at work, and Roger, being the best friend that he is, would always find an excuse to get Michelle in his vicinity during the visit. The first time they met in person, Andrew was a little embarrassed because he had just come from working on building the Delta Center (now known as the Vivint Home Arena), and he wasn’t looking his best, and Michelle would hardly look at him because she was embarrassed at being put on the spot. When asked what she thought of Andrew, she could only say she liked his eyes. After a few more “spontaneous” meetings, Roger finally put Andrew on the spot to ask Michelle out. He asked, and she said yes! They began talking for hours each night on the phone, then went on their first date to see Beauty and the Beast. Five weeks later, they were hanging out at Michelle’s apartment. Michelle was folding laundry, and said: “So, when are we going to get married?” Andrew was shocked, but, after making sure Michelle wasn’t joking, they decided that they were engaged! Andrew made a more official proposal on December 31, 1991, at Temple Square. They were married in the Salt Lake City Temple on June 26, 1992. Andrew loved to learn. He began his college education at Salt Lake Community College for his Associates Degree, then went on to the University of Utah for his Bachelor’s Degree in Education. He finished his college education journey with a Master’s Degree from the University of Phoenix. During this time, he was working full-time for Salt Lake County and part-time delivering pizza for Domino’s to help provide for his young, growing family. He and Michelle had four children: Jeanne (28), Eddie (26), Alex (24), and Ben (20). Andrew was raised with a love of music: he played the piano and organ at his church; taught himself how to play the guitar and bass; and he loved to sing. He helped create a teacher/student band while teaching at West Lake Jr. High, and he loved every minute of it. He was also part of a rock choir, and he enjoyed the short time he was part of it. Those that knew Andrew knew immediately that his number one favorite band of all time was Van Halen. He loved them so much that he named his first two sons after the Van Halen brothers: Eddie and Alex. Andrew enjoyed watching and participating in all things music up to his last days on Earth. He was a beloved Spanish, English, ESL, and Drama teacher. He used his love of music to bond with his students. He taught at Central Davis Jr. High in Layton, Utah; West Lake Jr. High and Kennedy Jr. High in West Valley City, Utah; and was teaching at Matheson Jr. High in Magna, Utah, at the time of his passing. As we’ve seen from the tributes on his Facebook page, he’s touched many lives for the better. We have learned from his students that he was a protector of those that had struggles in their lives. He cared deeply for his students, and he will leave a hole in the hearts of all who knew him. Andrew was preceded in death by his mother, Jeanne Anthony; his father-in-law, Marcus Rood; and his maternal and paternal grandparents, Keith and Donna Redd, and James F. and Jemima Anthony. He is survived by his wife, Michelle Rood Anthony; children: Jeanne, Eddie, Alex, and Ben; his father and stepmother, George Anthony (Joan); and his siblings: Aryn Willhite (Kevin), James Anthony (Annette), and Daniel Anthony (Ana), his mother-in-law: Shirley Rood, and his brothers and sisters-in-law: Marcus Rood (Jolynn), Matthew Rood, Angela Daley (Mike), and Amy Rood. Funeral services will be held at 11:30 am on Saturday, January 7, 2023, at the Ridgeland Ward: 4251 S 4800 W, West Valley City, UT 84120. A Celebration of Life will be held at the same location from 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm on Friday, January 6, 2023.

George "Andrew" Anthony

June 13, 1970 - December 25, 2022