M. Carol Anderson (Lebanon)'s Obituary
Margaret Carol Anderson was born July 12, 1951, to Everett Murphy and Edna Bryant Murphy in Lebanon, Missouri. She departed this life for her heavenly home on Wednesday, September 25, 2024. She was seventy-three years, two months and one day of age.
Carol, as she was known by those who knew her, was raised in Lebanon. On March 17, 1967, she was united in marriage to her lifelong love and best friend, Donald Dean Anderson. They celebrated over fifty-seven years of happiness and memories.
Carol was preceded in death by her parents, Everett and Edna; her brother, Everett Murphy, Jr.; and an infant sister, Linda Sue.
Family was the cornerstone of Carol’s world. She is survived by her loving husband, Donald (Don) Dean Anderson, Sr. of Republic, Missouri; two daughters, Tina Beck and her husband Fred and Tami Gaddy and her husband Holden, all of Republic, Missouri; two sons, Donald (Donnie) Gene Anderson and his wife Kayla of Lebanon, Missouri and Tim Anderson and his wife Tamara of Republic, Missouri; ten grandchildren, Timothy, Cody, Tieraney, Jarrett, Aaron, Seth, Cameron, Ethan, Logan and Alaina; seven great-grandchildren, Trinity, Natalie, Jaxson, Portia, Savanna, Layne and Dale; two sisters, Theresa Murphy of Rogersville, Missouri and Joyce Terveen of Nixa, Missouri; and one brother, Rodney Murphy of West Plains, Missouri; her church family; and many nieces and nephews, cousins and friends.
Carol was employed for a short time at H.D. Lee in Lebanon. With Don as a pastor, they served in several locations, including Urbana, Missouri, Moberly, Missouri, Fair Grove, Missouri where they raised their family, and in 1995, located to Republic, Missouri. Carol was the director of a daycare for seven years while they lived in Moberly.
Her focus was being a homemaker and a pastor’s wife. She played the piano at the churches they served and used her gift of hospitality. She was always thinking of others and was a very generous woman.
She loved her grandchildren and her great-grandchildren so much. They were the light of her life. She also enjoyed going to flea markets, finding treasures for her home and many times, items for other people.
Carol was a devoted pastor’s wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and friend, whose kindness and encouraging, supportive nature was rooted firmly in her Christian faith. Her trust in Christ and love for Jesus grew throughout her life and was the distinguishing characteristic recognized by all who knew her. Her home was a haven of warmth, love and laughter where countless memories were created and treasured.
Words cannot adequately express the impact she has had on the lives of her family and so many others. Her fingerprints are on us. We can only hope to live up to what she saw in us.
A memorial to the Republic Free Will Baptist Church has been established and donations may be left at the funeral home.
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