Roy Barless Anderson
Roy Barless Anderson, 84, of Scopus, Missouri, formerly of Piedmont, Missouri, died at his home on August 18, 2020. Born in Kennett, Mo., on February 27, 1936, he was the son of C.B. Anderson, Sr., and Sybil Campbell Anderson. He married Juanita Long in 1959. She died in 2008.
He was a graduate of Senath High School and attended Arkansas State University, SEMO State University and Three Rivers Community College. Following military service in the U.S. Army, he owned and operated an insurance agency and real estate agency in Piedmont. He was also a co-owner and manager of a small manufacturing plant in Piedmont.
Mr. Anderson served four terms as Mayor of the city of Piedmont. He also served as Public Administrator of Wayne County, was a delegate to the State Democratic Convention in 1972, and was executive board member of the Ozark Foothills Regional Planning Commission for 10 years. He also was a candidate for the Democratic nomination for the 154th District to the Missouri House of Representatives.
He served as chairman of the Governor’s Manpower Planning Advisory Committee for two years, served on the board of directors of the Missouri Municipal League for three years, and he also served on the Big Springs R.C. and D. Council.
He was a past president of the Piedmont Jaycees, past president of the Kiwanis Club and was the original chairman of the board that acquired funds and built a Sheltered Workshop for the employment of the handicapped in Piedmont.
Anderson received the Outstanding Community Economic Development Leadership Award from the Missouri Division of Commerce and Industrial Development for outstanding contribution to the economic development of Piedmont and the State of Missouri in 1977; volunteer of the Year Award for the State of Missouri from the Southern Industrial Development Commission for Economic Development; Certification of appreciation from the Piedmont Park Board for helping develop and construct an area community park; Certification of appreciation from Clearwater R-1 School Board for help in acquiring funds for four new classrooms; Certificate of appreciation from the Piedmont Police Department for improvements in the department; and Certificate of appreciation from the employees and city council for programs made while serving as Mayor of the City of Piedmont.
Anderson was also responsible for the acquisition of funds for construction of the Bye-McGhee Airport, Industrial Park and recreational park in Piedmont and for the acquisition of industries creating local jobs.
He retired to a cattle farm in Scopus, Missouri, where he shared his experiences and advise with local folks, while drinking coffee overlooking his Black Angus cows. Quail hunting and his bird dogs were favorite hobbies, along with being a Trump supporter. He spoiled his grandchildren.
He is survived by a daughter, Vickie (Kevin) Huskey of Hillsboro, Mo; a daughter-in-law, Jeanie Anderson of Eminence, Mo.; four brothers: Bill (Joyce) Anderson of Aberdeen, MS, C.B.(Marion) Anderson, Jr. of Senath, Mo., Bob (Ginger) Anderson of Salem, OR, and Charles (Betty) Anderson of Pine Bluff, AR; four grandchildren: Tom and Sam Anderson of Eminence and Lauren Huskey and Abbie Huskey of St. Louis.
He was preceded in death by his wife and a son, Jimmy Anderson.
Visitation will be Friday, August 21, 2020, from 11:00 a.m. until service time at Hutchings Funeral Chapel in Marble Hill. Funeral services will begin at 1:00 p.m with burial with military honors following in Cook Cemetery at Scopus.
