Carolyn “Carrie” Anderson

Funeral services for Carolyn “Carrie” Anderson, 82, of Bussey, will be held Friday, May
22, 2026, at 2:00 p.m. at the Independent Bible Church 102 2 nd St, Bussey, IA. Family
will receive friends prior to the service beginning at 1:00 p.m. Memorials may be made
to the Serenity House Hospice in Oskaloosa. The Pierschbacher Funeral Home in
Knoxville is assisting the family with funeral arrangements,
Carolyn Sue “Carrie” Anderson was born on June 27, 1943, to Paige and Bertha
Carmen in Gem, Kansas. As a teenager, her family moved to Algona, Iowa, where she
spent many of her younger years.
Carrie was blessed with six children during her marriage to Harry Wray: Cindy, Laurie,
Stacey, Dale, Melonie, and Troy. Later in life, she married Ray Anderson. While her life
brought many different chapters, her greatest joy was always being a mother and caring
for her family. She was a homemaker at heart and took great pride in creating a warm
and welcoming home. She also worked as a housekeeper and in hospitality, where her
hardworking nature and kind spirit served her well.
Carrie had a gift for seeing beauty in things others may have overlooked. She loved
summer fishing trips, spending time at garage sales, and hunting for hidden treasures.
She especially enjoyed giving old pieces new life, refinishing furniture or reupholstering
pieces she found along the way. She had an eye for decorating and design and always
seemed to know how to make a home feel special. You could say she was doing
Pinterest long before Pinterest ever existed.
Above all else, Carrie loved her family deeply and treasured the time they spent
together. Her home was often filled with laughter, stories, and the love she so freely
gave to those around her.
Carolyn “Carrie” Anderson passed away peacefully on May 13, 2026, at the EveryStep
Kavanagh House in Oskaloosa. She was preceded in death by her son, Stacey Earl
Wray; and her siblings, Ronald “Joe” Carmen, Darrell “Doc” Carmen, Melvin “Buc”
Carmen, and Imogene Menuey.
She leaves behind a family who will miss her dearly, including her children: Cindy
Leininger of Bussey, Laurie Wray of Columbia, Missouri, Dale Wray of Bussey, Melonie
(Fred) Anderson of Knoxville, and Troy (Tammy) Wray of Columbia, Missouri; her
grandchildren: Tifanie (Ryan) Adams, Chad (Jennifer) Leininger, Lindsay Leininger,
Jessica Anderson, Rachel (Vance) Carlson, Courtney Stoerker, Megan Anderson,
Shane Anderson, Paige (Clay) Harsin, Seth Wray, Kassie Fisher, and Bethanie Wray;
15 great-grandchildren; her siblings, John (Rose) Koggie, Jimmy Koggie, and Colleen
(Donald) Roll; along with many nieces, nephews, extended family members, and dear
friends.
Carrie will be remembered for her creativity, her strong spirit, and the way she made life
a little brighter and more beautiful for the people she loved.