Jay William Anderson was born May 15, 1931, in New York Mills, Minnesota, the son of John A. and Lillian Wapola Anderson. He received his undergraduate degree from Hamline University (St. Paul, Minnesota) and his Master of Divinity degree from Yale Divinity School (New Haven, Connecticut). Rev. Anderson served many churches in the Kansas West Conference, including Wichita, Ashland, Lyons, Liberal, and Pratt. He also served as the District Superintendent in Dodge City. After his retirement in 1997, he continued to serve as chaplain at Newton Asbury Park. Rev. Anderson married Lois Anne Hayes on May 30, 1953, at Albert Lea, Minnesota. To them were born daughters Catherine Louise (born 1957), Lori Jayne (born 1959), and Julie Lynn (born 1961). Rev. Anderson died on August 20, 2018, in Wichita, Kansas. His memorial service was held at the First United Methodist Church in Newton, Kansas, and he was laid to rest at Greenwood Cemetery, also in Newton.

Note written by Sarah St. John