If you talked much to Chris, you likely heard him ask how many therapists it takes to change a light bulb. Answer: One, but the light bulb’s gotta want to change. You probably also knew that Chris was devoted to Lili and had the faith and courage to, with her, bring eight children—the “Alphabet Kids”--into a family on one salary. They wryly joked that their tithing blessings must be their children because they were the only things they had no room to contain. With the 8th child on the way in a 3-bedroom home, and finances very tight, Chris took a sledgehammer to the stoop where an addition would begin and, at Lili’s shock and concern, calmly stated, “We need this space for the kids and the Lord will help us get it done.” Miracle upon miracle came and the addition was completed.
Born in Twin Falls, Idaho, Chris was immediately adopted by Mark and Roberta Anderson of Provo, Utah. Chris grew up in a house practically (and now in reality) a part of BYU’s campus. He and his dad attended every BYU basketball and football game. His kids were woken up to “Rise and Shout” and learned to cheer for the Cougars. As he grew up, Chris worked as a bellboy and then as desk clerk at the family business, Hotel Roberts, later saying his exposure to all kinds of people at the hotel laid a great foundation for his social work career.
At Provo High School, he met Lili De Hoyos. A history teacher first tried to set them up as partners on a field trip, but Lili was unaware and didn’t make it to the event. As senior and junior, they were at the same lab table in chemistry and together on the debate team. In chemistry, Chris would talk with Lili about debate and in debate, he would talk about chemistry. They dated until he served a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Kobe, Japan from 1971-1973. The second night he was home, he took Lili on a date and posed his romantic question, “Well, what do you think?” She said, “I really care for you but I don’t think so.” Chris’s persistence (and a sign from God) won her over, and they were sealed in a forever partnership in the Salt Lake City Temple on August 1, 1974. When, years later, Lili asked Chris why he persisted in the face of her reluctance, he said he was never more sure of anything in his life than that he was going to marry Lili.
They had eight children in twelve years: two kids in Provo, Utah (completing Chris’s degree in Sociology at BYU); two in Norman, Oklahoma (completing his Master’s of Social Work at Oklahoma University); two kids in Bolingbrook, Illinois (where he started his career for Church Family Services); then two more in Las Vegas, Nevada (his next assignment for work).
Chris began his 42-year career as an Agency Practitioner for the Church in Chicago. He did almost everything you could do in the agency: counseling, birth parent work, adoption, agency director for Nevada, and again for the flagship agency in Salt Lake City, helping with the setup and execution of the HELP Line for priesthood leaders, counseling for missionaries at the Provo MTC, in the Missionary Department as a resource to in-field representatives and mission presidents, coordinating world-wide area mental health advisors, program and material development, Field Group Manager at Headquarters, and humanitarian work.
While director in Las Vegas, Chris started thinking of last-days prophecies that the world would be in commotion. Following a strong prompting, he reached out to the local Red Cross chapter to learn what mental health services they provide in natural and man-made disasters. Chris learned the Red Cross trains mental health professionals for crisis response and arranged to have his agency personnel certified. Shortly afterwards, the Red Cross asked Chris if he would accept a two-week assignment with them, responding to a flooding disaster in Louisville, Kentucky. He and Lili were prepared to sacrifice two weeks of vacation time for Chris to gain this experience; at the last minute, he was given approval for taking paid leave. That was the first of many crisis response efforts Chris helped with for the Red Cross.
A few years later, after Chris had become director in Salt Lake, a gunman entered the Family History Library, just west of Temple Square, and shot seven people. Immediately, Chris selected some of his full-time counselors, gave some instructions, and implemented crisis relief. Five days later, the Columbine High School shooting happened and Chris was sent to respond in the first-ever official mental health crisis response from the Church. In the ensuing years, Chris responded, with more and more trained agency workers, serving victims of hurricanes, tornadoes, and other disasters. His extraordinary experiences are too many to recount, but include: being one of only two Christian counselors allowed to provide mental health response after the 2004 Indonesian Tsunami, going with the Church’s first response medical team to the 2010 Haiti earthquake, responding to the World Trade Center attack on 9/11, and providing humanitarian services in the Philippines on the U.S.S. Mercy. Before retiring, Chris trained all the North American Family Services agencies in Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM), fulfilling his original inspiration.
Above all, Chris was a steadfast family man. He would come home from work and fully engage in family needs and activities. He never shied away from new learning curves that came his way in providing for Lili and the kids. He learned to repair, retool, rework, reuse, along with build and innovate. He personified one of his original and often repeated maxims to the kids, “Flexibility is the key to mental health.” When Lili felt directed to go back to school for her graduate degrees, Chris was instantly supportive in every way, including assuming most household tasks. Chris’s spiritual, emotional, intellectual, physical and practical support were crucial to all of Lili’s personal and professional pursuits.
Chris passed away unexpectedly from a pulmonary embolism one week after his 71st birthday. He is survived by Lili, their eight children—Adam (Sara Payne); Bethany (Nathan Callister); Caitlin (Robert Justiniano); Dominic (Jennifer Sorensen); Eden; Faith (Spencer Cotterell); Graydon (Angela Bennion); and Harper—36 grandchildren, their first great-grandson, his sister, Marcia (the late Karl Barton), and his half-siblings, Debby Lewis (the late Rodger Blake), Art Lewis (Marsha), and Ann Givens. He is preceded in death by a granddaughter, Magnolia. His family will miss him terribly. They rejoice that, through the grace of our Savior, Jesus Christ, they will be reunited with Chris forever.
A viewing will be held Thursday, January 11 from 6 - 8 pm and Saturday, January 13 from 9:30 - 10:45 at the Draper Corner Canyon Stake Center, 13366 South 1300 East, Draper, UT 84020. Funeral services will take place in the same building at 11 am on Saturday. Interment will take place at Eastlawn Memorial Cemetery in Provo, Utah.
In lieu of flowers please consider donating to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints humanitarian services or missionary fund.
https://philanthropies.churchofjesuschrist.org/humanitarian-services
https://philanthropies.churchofjesuschrist.org/missionary
I have worked with Chris in the Vegas years with a
mentally unstable young woman. He was kind, smart about what she needed and kept me in the loop and trusted me as her young womens president. Because of Chris she is a stable successful person. He also had me as a volunteer in the adoption program. He was kind, willing to talk any time. Thanks for all of you, his family for sharing him with so many!!
I am so sorry for your loss. He is a wonderful man and I know he was a great Dad as well.
I’m so sorry for your loss. May the Lord be with you and your family in this time of mourning. Our prayers are with you.
What a beautiful obituary. He touched so many lives. He changed our world to be a better place to live. Reading all the things he was involved with is amazing. His sweet Lili is just as wonderful. Such a very special couple and equally 8 wonderful children. I am grateful to have learned from you all. When the Prophet says "Think Celestial" this family has been doing that for years. Sending my love,
Teri Fillmore
Friends since 1982, and one of a crowd of those who felt his love, leadership, and inspired guidance for decades. I am a witness that he followed his Savior and accomplished much because of his love for Him and his love for his fellow men and women.
We all love you infinity Uncle Chris. You have always been a great -down to earth, non-judging human being . You have never showed off your accomplishments .. EVER . We enjoyed you around us all at all times. Great smile and kind heart ♥️ SEE YOU IN OUR “FOREVER”. 🙏🤍🙏
We are so saddened to hear of the passing of Chris. What an amazing legacy he has left his beautiful family. We offer our heartfelt sympathy and prayers.
Always loved Chris's smile. A shining star in his own special way. Wishing you all love, peace, wonderful memories, and a future joyful reunion.
When I needed help !! You were there . When we were working in Miami in a critical crisis response team and I had a medical issue you were with me at the hospital every second .
I love you my friend.
Till we meet again
I never knew Christ but did hear him speak in our ward. He, along with Lily, was amazing.
But I did take adult institute classes from Lily in Las Vegas, received counseling for our son, and have listened to her numerous podcasts since then.
I was heartbroken when I learned of the passing of Chris this morning and appreciated her gracious testimony and thoughts. But I know that the opposite side of deep love is deep heartache, even though we have the knowledge and eternal perspective that comes from faith and belief in Jesus Christ. So my prayers are with Lily and her family and I pray the Lord will bless her and all who have lost this great man with strengthen through the faith and service they have dedicated to Him.
May the Lord bless you all!
With love- Kathy Pitt
It was a privilege to know Chris and to work around him at LDSFS. He was always helpful and kind and I will miss him. I am so sorry for your loss.
Lili and family, I just heard about Chris and wanted to send love to you. You will be in our hearts and in our prayers during this tender time. May you have peace and joy amid the sorrow of this temporary parting.
Chris was always so kind to me. He had made a huge influence in those around him. He truly was a person with great talents and strengths to share. He always treated me with gentleness. What a valiant soul!!
I have some very fond memories of Chris. Coming over to Provo Agency to help crank out some PMA's (Pre-Mission Assessments), attending Corporate trainings and hearing his awesome counsel having worked in the Family Services System for so many years. It was always so obvious that you loved your work and loved helping others Chris. I believe you were a true Disciple of Christ, just like your beloved sweetheart. You two had a great run together on this earth and I anticipate an even greater run in the Eternities together. My heartfelt condolences for your loss Lili and Family ! We at Family Services deeply love and appreciate the life, counsel and example of hard work, sacrifice and love that Chris showed ! Praying for blessings of peace, comfort and love to you all !
Chris was an amazing human being with a big heart. He was a great mentor and wonderful example to me. I will be forever grateful for his teachings, his example and friendship. He helped me to trust and believe in myself. Thank you Chris for touching the life of many people and my own life to help me to be better.
Susana Munoz
Family Services HQ
Sister Anderson, I do not know you personally, you were actually my sisters professor at BYU, but I listen to your podcast. You have inspired me! I am so very sorry for your loss. So sorry!! I know you know exactly where Chris is, but it’s hard to learn to live without him. I am praying for you, and putting your name in the temple. You inspire so many, hold to that! The Lord still needs you here! Thank you for being YOU!
Amber Linton
Smithfield Utah
In 2023 this wise man's counsel very much helped our struggling family. We are grateful to him, and truly sorry for your loss.
Hi Lily, I am so sorry. Chris and I started in kindergarten together and then of course we were in high school together. It is really hard but at least you have family. You will be in shock for sometime. I lost Kristy four years ago and we knew she was dying. It was still a shock when it finally happened. I have since remarried, but if you would ever like to talk, please call me I am an estate planning attorney retired but I can answer questions, and maybe help you through things I am really serious. I would love to chat with you sometime.
I watched you and Chris on a video where you taught together. If I remember you used more words than he did perhaps and he inspired me to encourage my wife to shine when we teach together as Chris did for you. I often thought of him in the background of your podcasts, looking at you and smiling. Yes I know you will miss him as will I. I wept with you when I heard the news. Thank you Lillie for including us in your life.
I don't personally know you or Chris, but when I heard he had passed away, I felt a great sadness for you, Lili. You have shared so much about him and your relationship over the years in your books and in your podcast, that I feel I can vicariously comprehend some depth of your loss. What a shock! My prayers have been with you and I pray that the Lord's comfort and grace will continue to sustain you. Thank you for your passion in teaching the gospel of Jesus Christ. I love it! You have a gift.
Lilly
Rosemary and I send our love and prayers of comfort and peace to you and your family.
Chris was so helpful to me while serving in our BYU stake. Chris had a big heart- we felt his love. You both have blessed our lives with our family struggles in our early years. Your examples and willingness to teach those things you were blessed to of had a special understanding - were very impactful for us.
We love you!
John and Rosemary Aldrich
Dear Lili,
You don't know me, but I have listened with great intent and gratitude to you on Follow Him podcasts. This week I heard your story of the loss of your sweet husband, and my heart went out to you with great compassion. It has been eight years since the loss of my husband. I too am so grateful for the gospel, covenants, and the joy of the promises set before us (Hebrews 12:2). I pray you may feel the love and guidance of the Lord in the days to come.
I feel blessed that I met you and Chris. You are both good people. Thanks for the link. I enjoyed the pictures. God bless.