Mary Lou Anderson, 87, of Murphy, passed away Sunday, Nov. 12, 2017, in Ducktown, Tenn.
Born Oct. 19, 1930, in Cherokee County, she was the daughter of the late Martin Thomas and Mary Lou Dora Kilpatrick Raper.
She was a member of Liberty Baptist Church. She was known for her love of her family, her outgoing personality and ability to make friends. She enjoyed feeding and watching birds.
She worked for Clifton Precision, where she was a component welder, and also worked for many years in an egg hatching business and for Levi Strauss.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, William Grady Anderson; her grandson, Brady William Singleton; and siblings, Blanche Boring, Lois Holloway, Glen Raper, Bill Raper and Clem Raper.
She is survived by her daughter and son-in-law, Shirley Anne and Ron Singleton of Copperhill, Tenn.; brothers, Charlie Raper of the Liberty community and Jack Raper of Ducktown, Tenn.; sister, Willa Wilson of Ocoee, Tenn.; and many nieces and nephews.
Funeral services will be conducted at 3 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 15, from Liberty Baptist Church with the Revs. Calvin Murphy and Tim Dickey officiating. Music will be provided by Jerrie Sue Massengale, Ed Vest and the Ranger Quartet. Personal remarks will be by Susan Otwell. Interment will follow in Friendship Baptist Church Cemetery. Hoyt Raper, Josh Griggs, Don Bodnar, Dwight Otwell, Charles Bradley and Pat Boring will serve as pallbearers. David and Jim Blankenship will serve as honorary pallbearers.
The family will visit with friends from 12:30 p.m. until the funeral hour at 3 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 15, at Liberty Baptist Church.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial contributions be made to the Brady Singleton and Grady Anderson Scholarship at Western Carolina University at Office of Development, 201 HF Robinson Building, Cullowhee, NC 28723.
Condolences may be sent to the family online at www.akinsfuneralhome.com.
Akins Funeral Home of Copperhill, Tenn., is in charge of arrangements.