Leah Joyce Yoder Anderson

April 6, 2025.

It is with aching sadness we say goodbye to our spunky, bright, empathetic Leah.

Leah Joyce Yoder Anderson was born July 2, 1988 in Salem, Oregon as the youngest child of Jonathan and Joyce Yoder. Her older sister Mary Yoder Anderson and brother Nathan Yoder were clever and creative playmates in their home outside of West Salem. Leah developed a quirky sense of humor and a flair for drama.

Leah married her soulmate, Bryan Anderson, on August 3, 2018 at her childhood home. They enjoyed traveling, gardening and making music together. As was the case when they performed a duet at their wedding, Leah and Bryan accompanied each other beautifully.

Music played a big part in Leah’s life. She had perfect pitch and could hit all the high notes. Her off-beat humor came through in her craft too, as she once recorded a Christmas album with every traditional song lyric replaced with “Meow”. More recently, Leah could be seen playing a rocking bass guitar in a local band.

Leah had a heart for others. After earning an undergraduate degree in social work at Goshen College and a MSW at New York University, she worked for several agencies, including a year at an orphanage in Guatemala. She then earned a master’s in school counseling at George Fox University and worked seven years in the Salem-Keizer School District at Stephens Middle School and McNary and South Salem High Schools. She was passionate about her work and set high standards for herself.

Our world will be less bright without Leah’s shining light. She was a beautiful person both inside and out, and we will miss her dearly. We will love her forever and will honor her memory at a private family gathering.

https://www.statesmanjournal.com/story/news/local/2025/04/07/death-school-counselor-delays-south-salem-mcnary-salem-keizer/82978734007/

https://www.salemreporter.com/2025/04/07/south-mcnary-start-late-monday-following-sudden-death-of-school-counselor/