Barbara Anderson

Barbara Imogene Peerman Anderson, 91, of Cape Girardeau died Friday, May 11, 2012, at Saint Francis Medical Center.

Anderson was born May 7, 1921, and raised deep in the Bootheel of Southeast Missouri, in the small rural town of Risco.

"The Risco Princess" spent her youth along with older brother, Leonard, at the home place along "ditch eight" on a 240-acre cotton farm.

Anderson graduated from Risco High School in 1939, and then attended Southeast Missouri State Teacher's College from 1939 to 1940. She also graduated from Sanders Business College in Poplar Bluff, Mo., and later completed training at Thayer Beauty College in Columbia, Mo.

Barbara and G.L. "Andy" Anderson were married Nov. 23, 1941, in Malden, Mo., two weeks before Pearl Harbor. Answering the call of duty, Barbara and G.L. traveled the Southwest, earning G.L.'s flight wings and obtained single-engine, multiple-engine, B-24 and B-17 credentials.

Settling in Hobbs, N.M., Barbara held down the home front while her husband performed his duties as a flight instructor for the U.S. Army Air Corps until the end of World War II.

The couple's first son, Ronald Lee, was born in nearby Lubbock, Texas. As the country began the post war transition back to peacetime, Barbara and G.L. built the first of three homes, establishing their family in Cape Girardeau. In 1950, Barbara gave birth to a beautiful baby girl, Carmen Theresa.

In February 1955, Barbara gave birth to her youngest son, a strapping, blond, curly headed, streaking baby boy, Brian Leslie.

As a mother and wife, Barbara continued to support her husband in his entrepreneurial endeavors.

Life had its ebbs and tides, and Barbara's life experiences were filled with events that would both bless her and test her resolve.

Barbara lost her beloved father, Everett Leslie Peerman, in 1959; her dear mother, Elenora Theresa, in 1965; her brother, Leonard Peerman, in 1978; her husband, affectionately named by her as "Puud," in 1971; and darling granddaughter, Tara Huckstep, in 1989.

Through it all, Barbara's resourcefulness landed her in the position of secretary for the Missouri Department of Revenue, Cape Girardeau office, until her retirement in 1999. Beyond the joy of raising her family and the time spent with friends, her proudest accomplishment was the organization and establishment of inner office procedures within the Department of Revenue's Field Audit Bureau here in Cape Girardeau.

Barbara's outside interests were playing her clarinet or piano, bowling, crocheting, knitting and oil painting. She also enjoyed making homemade lemon meringue pies and chocolate chip cookies with pecans. Yum!

As a mother, grandmother and great grandmother, Barbara left behind a rich, blessed, well-lived life and a family heritage to be honored and remembered.

Anderson is survived by two sons, Ron Anderson and wife Karey of Grants Pass, Ore., and Brian Anderson of West Palm Beach, Fla.; her daughter Carmen Huckstep and husband Gordon of Cape Girardeau; grandchildren, Sarah Crutchfield and husband Chad of Colorado Springs, Colo., Jason Anderson of Las Vegas, Holly Judkins and husband Gregg, Zachary Huckstep and wife Blair, all of Cape Girardeau, and Ashley Anderson of Stockton, Calif.; great-grandchildren, Immanuel, Elim and Ezra Crutchfield, Aidan Anderson, Benjamin and Hattie Judkins, and Rhett and Asher Huckstep; and sisters-in-law Joyce Peerman of Jackson, and Bonnie Sanders of Delray Beach, Fla.

As one more of our "Greatest Generation" passes, there will be a vacuum back-filled with memories for all of us left behind. We are thankful that she was our mother, grandmother and great grandmother.

Now, Mom, you know you can be "still and know He is your God." Miss you big time.

Love,

The Family

Visitation will be held from 4 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at Ford and Sons Mount Auburn Funeral Home with parish prayers at 7 p.m.

Funeral Mass will be held at 10 a.m. Wednesday at Old St. Vincent's Church, with Father David Hulshof officiating. Interment will follow at Saint Mary's Cemetery.

Online condolences may be made at www.fordandsonsfuneralhome.com.