Julie Anne Anderson, 53, of Idaho Falls, passed away Tuesday, May 19, 2026, at her home.

There’s always one child in the family who stands out from the other siblings. It’s not an insult to the other children, and there is no resentment from the other children, it’s just a fact. The standout child usually has an outgoing personality, attracts the attention of everyone in the room, is fun, witty, and talkative, and can crack up the room with just one or two comments. Our sister Julie was that child in our family.

From the beginning, Julie was eager to be in the world as she was born January 18, 1973, a month earlier than anticipated. She was the youngest sister to her brother Roger, five years older, and her sister Carol, almost three years older. As many younger children do, Julie loved playing with her siblings, following them around, and doing whatever they asked. Carol was her favorite playmate, and they would spend hours together in harmony. Julie also loved music, whether listening to it or creating it on the piano or with her beautiful voice. A hilarious childhood prank on poor Julie involved her singing into a garden hose with Roger and Carol closely near the water spigot. You can imagine the rest.

Julie attended Skyline High School in Idaho Falls, Idaho, where she embraced her natural talents of acting and singing through drama and choir. After graduating in 1991, she chose to spread her wings and attend Oklahoma Baptist University, where she participated in the drama department. At one point, this participation became competitive, and she and her fellow actors traveled to St. Louis, Missouri, to participate in a performance competition. There, she won for Best Supporting Actress for her portrayal of all roles - a drunk whore.

After two years in Oklahoma, Julie decided that she missed home and returned to Idaho for a few years. At this time, she became a lead salesperson at the local JCPenney store. Then in 1996, Julie transferred to the fifth-largest JCPenney in the nation, located in the suburbs of Minneapolis, Minnesota. Julie moved to Bloomington, Minnesota, to live and support Carol as she attended graduate school. Julie frequently referred to this time as the “Mary Tyler Moore” time of her life – with her being Mary Tyler Moore and Carol being Rhoda. During the three years living together in Minnesota, Julie and Carol always considered some of the best times of their lives - with many hilarious sister experiences.

After Minnesota, Julie lived in the Seattle area for a short time. After Seattle, she moved to Southern California, to once again live with Carol and to make a dream come true – working for Disney. Julie began her career with Disney working for the behind-the-scenes departments of Disneyland. This included working as an assistant with the Finance, Sales, Marketing, and Hospitality Industry Departments. Julie cherished this work experience and the relationships she built with many “cast members”. The experiences of meeting various stars and entertainers gave her many hilarious stories that only Julie could share, using her famous witty style.

While working for Disney, Julie auditioned for a soprano part in the Disney Cast Choir, which performed every Christmas season at Disneyland. This Christmas concert was a huge performance and well-known, especially to the locals. It involved an arduous audition process, which then became a professional-style choral performance combined with star-studded narrators. Standing near the top of a singing Christmas tree formation, singing in her beautiful soprano voice, was a highlight for her for several years.

Overall, Julie worked for Disney for a total of 16 years, until she and other employees became part of corporate layoffs. She then worked for an event planning company for about two years before Carol convinced her at the end of 2019 to get out of the expensive life of California and live closer to family. She lived briefly with Carol and her family in the Richland, Washington area until she had a job in Portland for a big-name hotel all lined up. Then the pandemic hit, and of course, changed everything.

In May of 2020, Julie moved back to Idaho Falls at the request of our father, as health concerns made it unsafe for him to live alone. Julie became his primary caregiver while simultaneously holding an online full-time job. It was a huge responsibility and loads of work, and she took it on with gusto, determination, and commitment. Her caregiving skills allowed our Dad to live at home until his death on February 4, 2026. They created a special bond during that time, and Julie was determined to send his memory out with a bang, planning a celebration of life and baseball playing activity for later this year in June.

Regardless of her accomplishments professionally, Julie was most proud of being a beloved aunt. As an aunt, she dove into the role (like anything she loved) with no holds barred. Anytime she could spend with them, she did with gusto. This included building snow forts, performing dances, singing sessions, playing make-believe, and spoiling them rotten with gifts. Whether it was taking them to Disneyland or buying them Christmas gifts, she planned months ahead for those special occasions. Her talent for imitating different accents and speaking pig latin as quickly as she spoke English was unmatched. Her niece plans to proudly carry on that tradition.

Julie loved to travel and would even do so alone. New York City was one of her favorite places, and she often wished she could live there. She loved the energy, the variety of people and experiences, and of course the endless theater opportunities both on and off Broadway.

Julie was not afraid to make herself vulnerable in order to educate people about topics that suffered from ignorance. She loved her family and cared about their future, she worried about the environment and the well-being of others, she was kind and loving. As an ethical person, she cared about the poor, the disenfranchised, the immigrant, the children, and the elderly.

Julie stood up when others were treated unjustly, proudly attending the Women’s March in California in 2017. When she couldn’t participate in person, Julie took to online – posting support of leaders who made her proud and speaking against those who disgusted her. At one point, she created her own podcast.

Julie is survived by her brother, Roger (Pam McQuarrie) Anderson; sister, Carol Anderson (Roy) Woodvine; niece, Emily Woodvine; nephew, Jake Woodvine; and several beloved relatives in Washington, Nebraska, Alaska, and California. She was preceded in death by her mother, Denise Anderson, and her father, Philip Anderson.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you share any special memories of Julie on the Coltrin Mortuary website.

Julie will always be remembered as having a young spirit, a positive attitude, and wanting the best for others, always cheering on those she loved. Her contagious laugh and sense of humor turned everyday moments into treasured memories. Julie spread joy so easily- making it a mission to tell others how much they meant to her. Everyone who knew her described Julie as one who lights up a room. Although she is gone, the memories of Julie will be a light within those who loved her so dearly. Julie will be missed immensely.

Private family services will be held. Cremation is under the care of Coltrin Mortuary, 2100 First Street, Idaho Falls. Condolences may be sent to the family online at www.coltrinmortuary.com.