Jerry Ace “Pete” Anderson, Jr., age 58, of Gillett, Arkansas, passed away suddenly and unexpectedly on January 31, 2026.

Pete was born on August 19, 1967, in Elgin, Illinois, to Sylvia Hill Anderson and Jerry Ace Anderson, Sr., both of whom preceded him in death.

Known to most simply as Pete, he was a man of deep faith, strong hands, and an even stronger heart. He was employed as Plant Manager at Adams Fertilizer Equipment, where he dedicated the past 10 years of his life, earning respect through his tireless work ethic, reliability, and leadership. Prior to that he had spent the biggest part of his adulthood working at Lennox LLC in Stuttgart, where he met his beloved wife Donna.

Pete was of the Baptist faith and accepted Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior in the summer of 1979 while attending a youth rally with his siblings at Pleasant Ridge Missionary Baptist Church in Brown Grove, Arkansas, where his family attended during his childhood. He was later baptized in a green-water cow pond, surrounded by cows in the pasture not far from that same church — a story that perfectly reflected Pete’s humble, genuine, and no-frills spirit.

Those who knew Pete knew his joys were simple and sincere: fishing, hunting, cooking, woodworking, and being surrounded by the people he loved. It was often said that if you gave him a screw gun, a bottle of wood glue, some wood, and a Michelob Ultra, he could build you just about anything — including a house. More than that, he had a way of building people up. He was always ready to smoke or grill something just to bring everyone together, because for Pete, food was love and family was everything.

Pete should be remembered as a man who loved his family fiercely and would do anything for any one of them. He was a hard worker with a strong work ethic, a loyal friend, stubborn and funny, kind, loving, and generous. Above all, he deeply loved his wife and truly enjoyed anything they did together.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Sylvia Hill Anderson and Jerry Ace Anderson, Sr., and his beloved grandson, Charles Bishop Harris.

He is survived by his loving wife, Donna Anderson; his children Cadence LeAnn Harris (Jase), Laci Harris, and Jeremy Gable (Ashley) of Gillett and Patrick Gable (Shana) of Dewitt; his siblings Joyce Neil (Nicky), Debbie Anderson, Carl Wayne Anderson (Kim), and Clarence Anderson, all of Hazen; 10 grandchildren; and several near and dear nieces and nephews who he loved deeply.

Visitation will be held at Essex Funeral Home in DeWitt on Wednesday, February 4, 2026 from 6pm-8pm. Funeral services will be at 10:00 am, Thursday, February 5, 2026 at Christ Connect Church in DeWitt, Arkansas, with burial to follow at Gillett Cemetery in Gillett, Arkansas.

Pete leaves behind a legacy of faith, family, hard work, laughter, and love — the kind that shows up, stays late, and never quits.

“Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.” – Hebrews 4:16