Our Lord and Savior took His own Lainey Elizabeth Anderson to be with Him on Friday, October 17th, 2025. Though young, Lainey lived a life marked by intentionality, accomplishment, and profound love. She leaves behind her mother, Misty Anderson, her beloved grandparents, Karen Elmore and Tes and Augden Short, aunts and uncles Genna and Brent Fincher, Andy Short and Amye Krogstad, Martha Lynn Hovis (Mike), Melanie Kuberg (Harry) and Sherry Grant (Ray), numerous cousins, friends who were family lovingly referred to as the Shanderwells, and so many more close personal friends. Lainey, Ellie, and Anna and Lindsey Shepherd shared an entire lifetime of experiences.
Lainey was born in Huntsville AL, a beloved daughter of Mark and Misty Anderson and eventually sister to Ellie. Lainey started training to be a pilot when she was only in high school. She graduated from Huntsville High School in 2021 and then Auburn University in 2025 with a degree in Professional Flight from the School of Aviation. She holds a Commercial Multi-Engine rating through Auburn University’s Professional Flight program, and earned a Restricted Airline Transport Pilot Certification, allowing her to co-pilot with airlines with 1000 hours of earned flight hours. She was also admitted to Commuter Airline pipeline programs for American and United Airlines.
At Auburn, Lainey was a member of Alpha Chi Omega sorority and her time there was marked by adventure, laughter, and friendship. After her Auburn graduation, Lainey accepted a position as a Certified Flight Instructor for Sanders Aviation in Jasper, AL. She had been hired at Pacific Southwest Airlines, working on the requisite number of hours to copilot for 5 years before following through to American Airlines. Lainey loved flying but also enjoyed so many other activities. She was an accomplished chef, a hobby all her friends and family benefited from, loved snow skiing and fun days at the lake with family and friends.
Lainey lived free of fear of judgment because she never judged others. She met people where they were and loved them there. She was a woman of strong faith, unfailingly kind, saw the good in everyone, and never held a grudge. She packed more life, love, and laughter into 22 years than most of us will in a lifetime. Lainey was fearless, always active, beautifully unique, and a devoted friend, daughter, granddaughter, niece, and cousin. She loved to travel (the bigger the city and more places to explore the better) and loved to water ski. Long weekends with friends and family at the lake were her very favorite thing to do. Lainey was inclusive–no matter how many people were involved, she was always willing to make room for one more.
There is so much to celebrate in Lainey’s life. May she encourage us to live more intentionally, love more deeply, forgive one another easily, be fearless in our choices, and pack as much into every day as possible. Lainey certainly did not waste one second of her time here on earth.
Visitation will be from 4 – 6 p.m. on Thursday, October 30, 2025 at Southwood Presbyterian Church, 1000 Carl T. Jones Drive. The funeral service will be held on Saturday, November 1, 2025 at 11:00 am, also at Southwood. A simulcast of the service and overflow parking will be available at Mayfair Church of Christ, 1095 Carl T. Jones Drive. The burial will be private.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Harris Home for Children, 1210 Church St NW, Huntsville, AL 35801 (https://www.harrishomeforchildren.org/donate-help), or A New Leash on Life, 707 Andrew Jackson Way, Huntsville, AL 35801, (https://www.anewleash.org/donate).
Matthew 5:16 “In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.”
