Nancy (Nan) Anderson was born December 16, 1941 in Sparta, Missouri, the last of six daughters of Gertrude and Earl Anderson. She died April 17, 2026. When she was 3 years old her family moved to Springfield, and she lived there until she went to graduate school. She was educated in the Springfield Public School System, obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree from Southwest Missouri State College, and a Master’s degree in Library Science from the University of Illinois, Urbana, IL. Her entire career was spent working in libraries. During the final two years of high school and all four years of college, she worked part-time at the Springfield Public Library. Upon completion of her Master’s degree, she accepted a position at College of the Ozarks as Instructor/Technical Services Librarian. She worked at CofO for 38 years, serving as Library Director the last 13 years of her tenure there, retiring with the rank of Associate Professor. After retiring she worked part-time in a bookstore in Madison, IN for two years before returning to Springfield. She did volunteer work at Cox Health for 4 years.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Gertrude and Earl Anderson; five sisters, Shirley Stafford, Barbara Cozad, Margaret Howell, Earlene Anderson, and Elva Harmon; and partner and friend, Dr. Becky Hartley.

She is survived by nieces and nephews, Judi Smith, Gail Carroll, Sandy Burrell, Stan Cozad, Libby Marion, Bobbi Weiss, Bruce Cozad, Sara Rickhof, Don Howell, Dan Howell, Sherry Lange, Brenda Williams, and Cathy Spargo.

Cremation will be handled by Gorman-Scharpf Funeral Home. Honoring her wishes, no memorial service will be held.