Mary Gertrude Anderson (
néeGaiser; December 7, 1909 – March 27, 2017) was an American business executive, known for co-founding REI (
Recreational Equipment, Inc.) in 1938 with her husband,
Lloyd Anderson.[1]
As avid
mountaineers in
Seattle,
Washington, they saw a need for quality gear so created a consumer cooperative company that is one of the largest recreational equipment retailers.[2][3] They were inducted into the Cooperative Business Association's Hall of Fame in 1993.[4]
In honor of her 100th birthday in 2009, December 7 was "Mary Anderson Day" in Washington state and the city of Seattle.[5]
Family life
Gaiser was born to John and Gertrude Gaiser in
Yakima, Washington. In 1932, she married Lloyd Alva Anderson.[6] She died at age 107 in 2017.[1][7]
^Morse, Gardiner (May 2003). "
Gearing Up at REI". (
https://www.hbr.org : accessed March 1, 2020) Harvard Business Review. Retrieved November 7, 2015.
^"Washington, County Marriages, 1855-2008," database with images, FamilySearch (
https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QP9M-KQLK : November 28, 2018), Lloyd A Anderson and G Mary Gaiser, June 19, 1932, Yakima, Washington, United States, Washington State Archives, Olympia; FamilySearch digital folder 007285622.