Jerald (Jerry) W. Anderson, age 91, a long-time resident of Sweet Home, passed away Thursday. He was born in Beardstown, Illinois; 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 over seas in the South Pacific, New Guinea, the Phillipines, and Japan. He served with the 27th Combat Engineers and the 13th Air Cargo Resupply Squadron. Jerald also served air dropping supplies to the front line troops.

Jerald moved to Klamath Falls, Oregon 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 for Aaron Morris. Jerald then bought the shop, running it for 30 years as Jerry’s Barber Shop. Jerald married LaVera Brown in 1949.

He 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. Jerald 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. Jerald was a Sweet Home Junior First Citizen in 1952, and served from 1953 to 1954 on the Sweet Home City Council. He loved to fish, camp and garden.

Jerald is survived by his wife, LaVera Anderson of Sweet Home; children, Wayne Anderson and Kim Dixon of Portland, Karie Tyler of Mulino, and Arnie Anderson of Sweet Home; eight grandchildren and seven great grandchildren; brothers, Harold of Peoria, Illinois and Alfie and Donald of Springfield, Illinois; and sister, Marjean Merritt of Augusta, Illinois.

He is preceded in death by his sister, Janice Dotzert of Washington, Ilinois.

A viewing will be held from 4:00-7:00 p.m., Monday, April 13, 2009 at Sweet Home Funeral Chapel. A funeral service will be at 11:00 a.m., Tuesday, April 14, 2009 at Sweet Home Evangelical Church. Final burial will be at Lewis Cemetery in Foster, Oregon.

Memorial contributions can be made in his name to Sweet Home Evangelical Church.

Sweet Home Funeral Chapel is handling services.