Harris County District Attorney Mike Anderson died the morning of Aug. 31, succumbing to a cancer he had been battling since spring, county officials said.

Anderson first announced he was battling cancer in a May 16 email to his staff. The type of cancer was never made public, but he had been undergoing treatment during the past several months.

"After a courageous battle against cancer, it is with a heavy heart that we must announce that Harris County District Attorney Mike Anderson passed away," wrote the DA's office in a statement released Aug. 31. "We all have suffered a terrible loss today of a devoted public servant, husband, and father. His sense of justice, his wisdom and support, his easy laugh, and, most of all, his friendship were his gifts to us. He loved this office and the people here serving the citizens of Harris County."

As district attorney, Anderson was the highest officeholder in the Harris County legal department, representing the county in the prosecution of criminal offenses. The DA's office in Harris County investigates and prosecutes an estimated 110,000 criminal cases each year.

Anderson was elected to the position of district attorney in November 2012 after defeating Democratic opponent Lloyd Oliver with 52 percent of the vote. He replaced former district attorney Patricia Lykos, whom he defeated in the 2012 primary election. Anderson spent 17 years as a prosecutor and 12 years as a state district judge before taking over as DA.

Voters will get the chance to elect a district attorney to replace Anderson at a special November 2014 election. In the meantime, Gov. Rick Perry will collect applications and appoint an interim district attorney. The Harris County District Attorney election takes place every four years, with the next regular election planned for November 2016.

A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. Friday, Sept. 6 at the First Presbyterian Church, 5300 Main St., Houston. In lieu of flowers, Anderson's family is asking that memorials be given to Big Brothers Big Sisters or the Harris County Drug Court Foundation.