Nike Poulos Anderson

Funeral services for Mrs. Nike Poulos Anderson, 84, of Monroe, LA, will be held at 11:30 A.M. Tuesday, January 28, 2025, at First Methodist Church in Monroe, LA, with Rev. John O'Leary officiating. Interment will follow in Mulhearn Memorial Park Cemetery in Monroe, under the direction of Mulhearn Funeral Home Sterlington Rd., Monroe, LA. Visitation will be held from 10:00 A.M. until service time at the church.

Nike was born in Winnsboro, Louisiana to Nick and Emily Poulos on January 11, 1941, and was the youngest of five children. She graduated from Winnsboro High School, and attended and graduated from Northeast Louisiana State College, now ULM, with a degree in Education in August of 1963. Nike knew from an early age that teaching was her calling. She was a special education teacher for over 25 years, the majority of which was spent working with children with Cerebral Palsy. She loved her students and they loved her. She was active in her church and an active member of her United Methodist Women circle.

Nike was the daughter of Greek immigrants and proud of her Greek heritage, often telling her sons that they were related to Alexander the Great. She was also proud of growing up in Winnsboro, which she stated was an international town as there were many nationalities there.

Nike met the love of her life, Bob Anderson, on New Year's Eve in 1961 at a party at the Penn Hotel in Monroe. They married in August of 1963, and were married for 56 years before Bob's death in April of 2019. They lived in Monroe their entire married life, raising their family of two boys in the best possible way, with God and family at the center. While growing up, both sons thought they had an average life experience. Now, they both realize that growing up as the sons of Bob and Nike Anderson was far from average.

Nike delighted in spending time with family and friends. Much of her time was also spent at Lake Bruin with her family and friends. She loved the holidays and excelled in creating a wonderful time for all her family. Nike attended virtually all of her grandchildren's sporting events and was an enthusiastic fan, even though she knew very little of sports despite being married to a sportswriter for over 50 years.

She loved baking and making crafts with her grandchildren and through the years made many scrapbooks for her family that are cherished keepsakes.

Nike was a consummate Southern lady and a friend to all who knew her. She loved to travel both in the United States and abroad and was proud of having visited all fifty states. She had an exceptional green thumb that was the envy of her friends and family. She could get anything to grow, as evidenced by the sea of green plants in her sunroom. Often times Nike would give away a plant, green and full of life, only have to nurse it back to health when the recipient couldn't get it to grow.

She is survived by her sons, Nick Anderson and wife Cheree, Tom Anderson and wife Nacky; grandsons, Andrew Anderson and wife Abby, James Anderson and fiancée Taylor McGuffee; granddaughters, Kaili and Kina Anderson; sister-in-law, Meg Anderson; niece, Emily LaFrance and husband Billy; nephews, Nick Poulos, Frank Poulos and wife Amy; and numerous cousins, great nieces, and nephews.

She is preceded in death by her parents, Nick and Emily Poulos; brothers, Tommy and Frank Poulos; sisters, Katherine Funderburk and Caliope Poulos; sister-in-law, Janice Poulos; and her loving husband of 56 years, Bob Anderson.

The family would like to thank the staff at The Columns of Bastrop for their loving care over the last few years, specifically Crystal Armstrong, Remona Hobbs, LeTesha Walker, Aubrianna Haynes, Earlexia Davis, Roshunda Richard and Lora Sanders. They would also like to thank Pat McIntyre for her care, as well as nurses Kim Coleman and Betty Gardner of Premier Hospice of Bastrop.

Pallbearers will be Scott Arnold, Paul Bradley, Isaac Poulos, Keith Rodgers, Joey Embanato, and Bernard Smith. Honorary Pallbearers will be the Friendship Class of First Methodist Church Monroe.

Memorials may be made to the First Methodist Church of Monroe or to the Alzheimer's Association.