Nellie Bea Anderson, age 96, died Tuesday, January 4, 2022, at the Stevens County Hospital in Hugoton, Kansas. She was born December 12, 1925, in Cushing, Oklahoma, the daughter of Orville Seth and Lucy (Edmonson) Graham.

Bea grew up in Oklahoma. As a young girl, she would sing at funerals and also worked at the funeral home. She attended Friends Bible College in Haviland for two years before she came home to take care of her father. Bea married Walter H. Anderson on July 23, 1946, at Coyle Friends Church. They met when they were 3 and 4 years old at a church meeting and had a loving marriage for over 50 years. She was a loving mother and grandmother, and supported her children in all their endeavors. Bea was an accomplished seamstress and sewed for many people. She also loved music and playing the piano. Bea conducted the choir at Bethel Church of the Nazarene for many years, and also served as a Sunday School teacher. She was well known for her cooking and hosted many dinners for pheasant hunters and friends, which became like family. Bea also spent many years in Colorado camping and fishing.

Survivors include her sons, Steven Harold Anderson and wife Tanya of Hugoton, Walter Rodney Anderson and wife Jeanetta of Graham, Texas, and Ronald Lynn Anderson and wife Barbara of Hugoton, daughter, Freida Bea Cochran of Omaha, Nebraska; 11 grandchildren, 18 great-grandchildren, and one great-great-granddaughter.

Bea is preceded in death by her parents; husband, Walter in 1997; two brothers, one sister, one grandchild, and one son-in-law.

Graveside service will be Saturday, January 8, 2022, at 2:00 PM at the Hugoton Cemetery. Visitation is Friday, January 7, 2022, from 2:00 PM until 8:00 PM at Garnand Funeral Home in Hugoton. Memorials may be given to Barclay College in Haviland in care of Garnand Funeral Home, 423 S Main, Hugoton, KS 67951. Condolences may be posted at www.garnandfuneralhomes.com.