Anna Mae Anderson, 87, passed away peacefully on Monday, February 19th, 2018. She was born June 27, 1930 in Barling, AR to the late W.B. and Frances Holland. She attended school at Barling’s two-room schoolhouse, and loved to impress her grandkids by telling them she skipped the eighth-grade!
As a young woman, she worked as a telephone operator. But her greatest joy was caring for her family and friends. She was a devoted caretaker to her daughters Teresa and the late Kimberly Ann, who passed in childhood of muscular dystrophy. When her own aging mother needed help, Anna Mae did not hesitate to provide loving care. And a little over a year ago, she provided care to her husband of 60 years, Milton, until his passing. She played an important role in the upbringing of her grandchildren and great-grandchildren, and had the fortune of knowing her great-great-grandchild.
Her other joy was tirelessly serving First Baptist Church of Barling, where she was a member for over 40 years. Whether working in the nursery, cleaning the church, attending baby showers and weddings, providing food for funerals, or participating in the prayer chain, she was happy to lend a helping hand.
Anna Mae is survived by her daughter, Teresa Hutchins of Barling; her grandchildren, Grant and Aerial Nicely of Ozark, Heather and Brian Leonard of Oklahoma City, and Blake Vaughn of California; her great-grandchildren Kiersten Nicely of Mountainburg, Logan Nicely of Ft. Smith, Emily Firestine and Aiden Firestine of Alma, and Ainsley Leonard and Piper Leonard of Oklahoma City; and a great-great granddaughter, Brooklyn Bing of Mountainburg; her sister and brother-in-law, Linda and James Fields of Sherwood, and brother-in-law Arnold Welch of Texas; and several beloved nieces and nephews. She also has many “adopted” grandchildren who she loved as her own, including Debbie and Shawn Firestine of Alma, James Bing of Mountainburg and Jessica Hougan of California.
In addition to her parents, husband and daughter, she was also proceeded in death by her brother Louis Holland and her sister Dorothy Welch.
Public viewing will be 12:00 PM – 4:00 PM Sunday, February 25, 2018 at Fentress Mortuary.
Funeral service will be 11:00 AM Monday, February 26, 2018 at the First Baptist Church of Barling. Visitation will be at the church one hour prior to the service. Burial will follow the service at the Barling City Cemetery.
Pallbearers will be James Bing, Aiden Firestine, Shawn Firestine, Brian Leonard, Grant Nicely and Blake Vaughn. Honorary Pallbearers will be Roger Bullington, Frankie Crosslin, James Fields and Hardy Royal.
Memorials may be sent to the First Baptist Church of Barling, 602 Church Street, Barling, AR 72923.
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