Gerald "Jerry" Bruce Anders

Gerald “Jerry” Bruce Anders, 73 of Batesville, Arkansas passed away Tuesday, May 16, 2017 at his home. He was born August 10, 1943 in Everett, Washington to Sig and Patricia Eileen (Crane) Anders. He lived in Everett, Washington until the age of 8 when his parents moved to Unionville, Missouri to be on the farm.

As a young man he worked several jobs: on farms in Unionville, as a parking lot attendant in Kansas City, in a foundry, McGraw-Edison, on the railroad, and at a box factory in Iowa. He then got a job at Stampers which soon became Banquet Foods and later became ConAgra in Milan, Missouri. He worked 29 years in the Milan plant until he transferred to Batesville, Arkansas and worked another 8 years and retired from there with 37 years of service.

He met Beverly Jean (Ledford) Anders in July 1962 and after a short courtship they got married on October 15, 1962.

He is survived by his wife, Beverly Jean Anders; 3 children, Laura Jean Robinson (Charles), Mary Kathryn Wessley (Jeff) and Jeremy Bruce Anders; 4 grandchildren, Sheena Brandi Robinson, LaToya Dawn Robinson, Grant Wayne Wessley and Nicole “Nikki” Kathryn Wessley; 3 great grandchildren, Gretchen Riley Kimmel, Ethan Ray Kimmel and Maya Kathryn Gayle Waller expected to be born in August; a sister, Amy Marie (Anders) Callihan; a sister-in-law, Peggy Anders; 2 brothers-in-law, Dennis Cowan and Martin Callihan; several nieces and nephews and cousins.

He was preceded in death by his parents; 2 sisters, Kathryn Mary Anders (still born) and Patricia “Patty” Kathryn (Anders) Cowan; a brother, William “Billy” Franklin Anders and mother-in-law, Helen (Shisler) (Ledford) Current.

He was called to the ministry on April 10, 1989. He was an evangelist for many years. He was pastor of the Pennville church for a while. He had a gospel music ministry where he and his wife sang at churches and nursing homes. After moving to Batesville, he joined the Peaceful Harbor Pentecostal Church, where he became a trustee of the church, the Sunday School superintendent and led church services on Sunday mornings.

He had several hobbies; fishing, camping, traveling, going to flea markets and helping at the church. He enjoyed talking to and meeting new people. He never knew a stranger. He loved to cook and liked making up his own recipes. He made some of the best cream pies around. He always said that “a good cook tries different things in their recipes” and if something was really good he would say “you got a good scald on that”. He would give the shirt off his back if someone needed it. He will be greatly missed by family and friends.

Funeral services will be held Monday, May 22, 2017 at 2:00 p.m. at the Playle-Collins Funeral Home in Unionville, Missouri. Visitation will be held from 1:00 p.m. until service time at the funeral home. Burial will follow in the Thompson Cemetery located at Unionville.