Deborah Lee (Metzig) Anderson, 66, died Tuesday after battling bladder cancer for 11 months.
Mrs. Anderson was advertising director of the Daily Record and Realty-Builder until her retirement Feb. 16.
Matt Walsh, manager of Daily Record & Observer LLC and CEO and owner of Sarasota-based Observer Media Group Inc., bought Bailey Publishing & Communications Inc. in January 2017.
“In the year I had the privilege to get to know and work with Deborah, she made an impression on me that I will use to remind myself during difficult times: While living in terrible pain, Deborah never complained, sought pity or was defeatist. She always spoke with hope and a positive attitude. She showed great courage and had such an admirable faith in God,” Walsh said.
“As a professional and person, Deborah was a delight — competent, conscientious and always pleasant. The best, most succinct way to describe Deborah: She was a good person — and I emphasize the word ‘good.’ I wish we could have worked together longer.”
Jim Bailey, publisher emeritus of the Daily Record and Realty-Builder, worked with Anderson for 20 years.
“Deborah was an amazingly positive person. Her spirituality was her compass in life and it was evident in her relationships with family, friends and her customers,” Bailey said.
“She was trustworthy, caring and selfless. Even during her health challenges, she thought more of the ones she was leaving, comforted by knowing one day, they would be reunited,” he said.
Bailey said he would remember her “smiling face and mellow and harmonic greeting each morning. It gave me confidence knowing no matter what the day would bring, we could tackle it as a team.”
Mrs. Anderson was born March 31, 1952, in Kalamazoo, Michigan.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Paul and Clevetta Taplin; her husband, Gene Metzig; and son, Craig Metzig.
In 1991, she became a resident of Clay County, where she lived until the summer of 2015.
On July 31, 2015, she married Mark Anderson and became a resident of Mandarin and a member of Mandarin Presbyterian Church.
Mrs. Anderson pursued a successful career as an advertising sales executive at the Daily Record and Realty-Builder and was widely known among Northeast Florida’s homebuilders and Realtors.
“She was a talented, dedicated, committed, faithful and loyal employee,” says the obituary provided by her family. “But more than that, she was a Godly, kind, caring and considerate friend. She was a woman of character, confidence and a ‘classy’ professional who was devoted to her job.”
“Her love of God, family & friends, and the church were very important to her and she celebrated every day of her life in JOY and a gift from Him,” it says.
The obituary says she enjoyed cooking for her family and spending time with them, and always wore a smile and gave grace to every need. She spent a lot of time and effort preparing for the holidays with her family, especially the grandchildren, and her husband.
“Her early morning routine included scripture (food for the soul), physical fitness through exercise, yoga, swimming, and/or long walks outdoors in God’s creation. This was also a plan of hers by extending time to build and grow relationships with others,” her family says.
She is survived by her husband, Mark Anderson; one daughter, Tiffany Pellegrino (Mike), of Zephyrhills; four sons: Sean Metzig (Denise), Green Cove Springs; Kevin Metzig (Michelle), Columbia Heights, Minnesota; Zack Anderson (fiancee Lauren Huish); and Chase Anderson, of Mandarin.
She also is survived by her sister, Becky Schumacker (Jim), of Katy, Texas, and brothers Bob Taplin (Lori), of Greeley, Colorado; Dick Taplin (Cheryl), of Broomfield, Colorado; sister-in-law Diane Wilkie (Dave), Mendota Heights, Minnesota; and 12 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial donations to Mandarin Presbyterian Church (Missions Fund) 11844 Mandarin Road, Jacksonville, FL 32223; or Heartland Hospice, 8130 Baymeadows Way W., Suite 201, Jacksonville, 32256.
A memorial service is scheduled at 11 a.m. April 16 at Mandarin Presbyterian Church, 2501 Loretto Road, in Jacksonville.