Ann Anthony

Ann Anthony, 93, passed away April 1, 2023 at home in Lacey. She was born on December 5, 1929 in Portland, Oregon and was the fifth of Anna Mary (Deis) and Michael Schmidt’s ten children. She attended elementary school at St. John’s Catholic School in Milwaukie, Oregon and graduated high school from St. Mary’s Academy in downtown Portland in 1948, where she was both an outstanding student and athlete. After high school, Ann enrolled in the Providence Hospital School of Nursing in Portland, from which she graduated in 1951. As a new graduate, she initially worked in the surgical and pediatric units at Providence. In 1953 she enlisted in the U.S. Air Force Nurse Corps as a Second Lieutenant and served in California and Japan. After leaving the military in 1955, she joined the staff of Portland’s V.A. Hospital. She married Donald Wayne Anthony in November 1955. They raised their four children in Portland through August 1970 and, thereafter, in Olympia, Washington. Don was a merchant seaman, primarily working on ocean-going towboats, which meant he spent long periods of time away from home. Thus, Ann was effectively a single working mom for long periods of time, including employment in home health care, the old Sellwood Hospital in Portland and at St. Peter’s Hospital in Olympia. After retiring, Ann worked as a volunteer for school support groups, free clinics and area hospitals – and spent time with her 11 grandchildren, including trips to a destination of choice by each grandchild. Notably, she became very active in the national Cookie Cutters Collectors Club, which gave her travel opportunities for meetings and in support of its national museum.

She was preceded in death by her husband Don in 2001 and is survived by her four children; son David Anthony (Chrisea) of Portland, Oregon, daughter, Mary Davis (Kevin) of Snohomish, Washington; son, Peter Anthony (Katharine) of Federal Way, Washington; son, Robert Anthony (Lauri) of Centralia, Washington; 11 grandchildren and 5 great-grandchildren.

A funeral Mass will be held at 10:30 a.m., Tuesday, April 25th at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, 812 Bowker St. S.E., Lacey, Washington, with a burial service and reception to follow at Mills & Mills Funeral Home & Memorial Park, 5725 Littlerock Road, Tumwater, Washington. The family requests that any donation in Ann’s memory be made to Catholic Community Services of Western Washington or the Meals on Wheels program sponsored by South Sound Seniors.org.