Norma Jean Anderson

Jean was born in Iowa City to Mary Sumner and Fred McNutt. She was a curious child who loved learning. She lived on a farm when she was young but had to move to an Italian neighborhood in Kansas City after a fire destroyed several buildings. In this neighborhood she played sandlot baseball, enjoyed Italian festivals and climbed on the cliffs in the park across from their house. She lived in Kansas City until she was 14.

At 14 she was headed back to Bedford, and the over the next four years she found herself living with a cousin and helping take care of their younger kids. She attended high school in Conway and although the classes were small, she made wonderful friends and memories. She often recalled playing basketball on the high school team as a defender. Although she was not the tallest, she always gave her best.

After high school Jean worked several jobs, but one she often talked about was working for a record store. She would wear many hats over the years, but she was happiest when she met the love of her life, August “Ted” Anderson. She always wanted a family, and she found her steady partner in Ted. Jean was a wonderful cook. She always made everything from scratch and in many ways, this defined the way she showed love. She was especially skilled at making homemade noodles either with chicken or roast beef.

Jean’s greatest joy was being the mother of her four children, Grandmother to her eight grandkids, and five great grandkids. Jean was the kind of lady who exuded motherhood. She was willing to do anything for her kids and made sure they knew right from wrong. Although she was strict, the house was always full of kids playing games and hoping for some of that wonderful cooking.

Jean was also a very creative person. She learned how to paint wonderful scenery, taught and sold ceramics, and we all enjoy the many blankets she crocheted for us. She was also an avid reader. Often, she would finish multiple books in just a week’s time. She enjoyed sharing her love of stories with others participating in various book clubs.

Besides her family, friends and many hobbies Jean’s other and most important passion was the lord. She would often evangelize to others always willing to share her faith in Jesus. This relationship was very personal to Jean, and she credits it with getting her through the times in her life especially when she was young.

Jean is preceded in death by her husband Ted, her loving granddaughter Lauren, her parents, and her sister Velva. She is survived by her four kids, Carla, Fred (Lori), Rob and Adam (Cindy), grandkids, Joshua, Lexie, Ryan, Paige, Tyler, Mariah and Blake, and great grandkids, Aubrey, Eleanor, Hunter, Avery, and August. Jean leaves behind a wonderful legacy as a woman who loved with her whole heart and her amazing food.