James Scoon Anderson, 78, of Queen Creek, Arizona, died August 31, 2026 at home in Queen Creek.

Jim was born June 26, 1948 in Cheyenne, Wyoming. For forty-three years, his home near Meriden, Wyoming above the banks of Horse Creek offered solace and comfort in return for his stewardship.

Jim built and drove competitive race cars in the sixties, served in flight operations with the Wyoming Air National Guard, flew charter and instructed students for Cheyenne Airways, was a founding partner of Aero Ventures Cessna dealership, flew corporate jets for Fortune 500 companies while based at Stapleton airport in Denver, served as check airman and FAA designated examiner, and was a Captain for Continental Airlines, flying South American routes, and retiring after twenty years.

Jim shook hands with four presidents, beginning with Harry Truman in 1958, after being introduced at the Plains Hotel in Cheyenne. His most fond memory of corporate flying was sharing Lear cockpits with Neil Armstrong, who then served on Lear’s board of directors, and being invited to his home.

Beyond vocations, Jim’s joy and love in life were his wife Connie and son Bryan. Inseparable, Jim and Connie shot clay target tournaments, raced Corvettes, shared joy in flying, stargazing, motorsports, theatre, and music. Jim thought himself quite fortunate to have shared cooking, laughing, and traveling six continents with them. Jim believed the most wonderful thing in his life was getting to be in theirs.

Private services have taken place.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to The Old Rhinebeck Aerodrome (P.O. Box 229; Rhinebeck, NY 12572) or the Arizona Humane Society.