Rev. Billy Guy Anderson

The Reverend Billy Guy Anderson of Salem, Missouri, founding pastor of Salem Faith Assembly Church, died Friday, July 11, 2025, at age ninety. Celebration of Life will be held at Faith Assembly Church and will be announced at a later date. Private Graveside Services will be held in the Cedar Grove Cemetery. Arrangements are under the direction and care of Wilson Mortuary of Salem, Missouri. Born February 3, 1935, in Howell County, Missouri, to Guy and Nona Anderson, he graduated from West Plains High School. He then joined the U.S. Navy, serving from March 1952 through January 1956. He married Joan Myree Collins of West Plains on Sept. 4, 1954. She preceded him in death in March 2013, just months before their sixty-ninth wedding anniversary. He was employed by the Missouri Department of Transportation for many years, working in West Plains, Van Buren and Salem, where he served as district maintenance supervisor. He retired from MoDOT in 1985 to enter full-time ministry. While working for MoDOT, Rev. Anderson served as a pastor for many churches in the region, including Pomona First Baptist Church in Pomona, Missouri; Bethlehem Baptist Church in Ellington, Missouri; First Baptist Church of Fremont, Missouri; New Harmony Church in Salem, Missouri; Gladden Baptist Church in Gladden, Missouri; Abundant Life Church in Salem, Missouri; and Salem Faith Assembly Church, which was founded in 1978 and which he continued to serve as pastor. Known for his passion for helping the less fortunate, he led the church’s efforts to establish Faith Mission and the church’s Food Distribution Center. He also led efforts to create a Christian school at the church. While leading Salem Faith Assembly, he pursued higher education, earning Master of Theology and Doctor of Divinity degrees from Florida Theological Seminary. He also served for many years as an officer of the Dent County Ministerial Alliance. Rev. Anderson is survived by his wife of eleven years, Karen Anderson, of the home; daughters Deborah McFadden of Salem and Dyann Careaga (and son-in-law Andrew) of Rolla; granddaughters Tamara Gill of Viburnum and Karissa Stienbarger of Salem; sister Jame Newberry of Kansas City, Missouri; and several great- and great-great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his first wife, Joan Myree (Collins) Anderson; his parents, Guy and Nona Anderson; his in-laws Andrew Jackson and Elfa Mae (Russell) Collins; and sisters Jean Libby, Carla Anderson and Edna Anderson. In lieu of flowers, Memorial Contributions may be made in memory of Billy Anderson to Faith Mission and Food Distribution and left with Wilson Mortuary or mailed to Salem Faith Assemble Church PO Box 269, Salem, MO 65560. Memorial Envelopes will be available. Condolences may be left online at www.wilsonmortuary.com

Rev. Billy Guy Anderson

February 3, 1935 - July 11, 2025