Jerald (Jerry) W. Anderson, 91, a long-time resident of Sweet Home, died April 9, 2009.
He was born May 28, 1917 in Beardstown, Ill., the son of Harold and Julia (Shouse) Anderson. He attended school in Beardstown and worked for the B&O Railroad for several years.
In 1943 he went into the Army, serving for two years overseas in the South Pacific, New Guinea, the Philippines and Japan. He served with the 27th Combat Engineers and the 13th Air Cargo Resupply Squadron. He also served on planes air-dropping supplies to the front-line troops.
Mr. Anderson moved to Klamath Falls in 1947. He worked as a cat skinner in the woods and then moved to Portland, where he attended Molar Barber College. In 1948 he came to Sweet Home and worked for five years as a barber for Aaron Morris. He then bought the shop, running it for 30 years as Jerry’s Barber Shop. He married LaVera Brown in 1949.
Mr. Anderson was a member of the Sweet Home Evangelical Church and a life member of the VFW. He had served as president and secretary for the Sweet Home Lions Club. He worked for several years with the Cub Scouts and helped to organize a Boys Club at his church. He was also a member of the Sweet Home Senior chapter and the Santiam Sams Good Sam chapter.
He was named a Sweet Home Junior First Citizen in 1952 and served from 1953 – 1954 on the Sweet Home City Council. He loved to fish, camp and garden.
Mr. Anderson is survived by his wife LaVera Anderson of Sweet Home; children Wayne Anderson of Portland, Kim Dixon of Portland, Karie Tyler of Mulino and Arnie Anderson of Sweet Home; eight grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; brothers Harold of Peoria, Ill. and Alfie and Donald of Springfield, Ill.; and sister Marjean Merritt of Augusta, Illinois.
He is preceded in death by his sister. Janice Dotzert of Washington, Ill.
Funeral services were held April 14 at Sweet Home Evangelical Church.
Memorial Contributions can be made in Mr. Anderson’s name to Sweet Home Evangelical Church.
Sweet Home Funeral Chapel is handling the arrangements.