Ann Wallace of Evanston passed away peacefully on Sunday, Jan. 13, at the St. John’s Living Center in Jackson. She was 70.
Born on June 5, 1948, in Salt Lake City, to Dwight and Nancy Brimmer Wallace, Ann was raised in Evanston, graduated from Rowland Hall-St. Mark’s High School in Salt Lake, attended Arizona State University and returned to Evanston to live many happy decades in her treasured family home on Summit Street.
Ann’s vitality and passion for life surpassed physical limitations of her lifelong health challenges. Indeed, with strength few could maintain, Ann found a way to thrive, never complaining of the constant pain or restrictions with which she lived.
She loved many things — friends, family, humor, laughter, causes, children, small animals and, especially, Wyoming.
She found great joy in The Beatles and the music of Neil Diamond. Her mother, Nancy, passed on a deep love of Scottie dogs. Ann loved wearing the bright vibrancy of purple as a color of joyfulness. Ann’s sense of humor and instinct to laugh as well as listen will be long remembered by those who loved her.
In Evanston, she enjoyed the companionship of her lifelong pals Carol Davis Schneider, Francie Carruth, Jeannie Megeath Gardner and Cindy Bennett Vaughn, and she loved helping to raise the children of her close cousins, Laurie Bateman and Sarah Ringer.
In later years, Georgia Harvey was her devoted friend. As Ann’s health deteriorated, Georgia was frequently by her side. Together they validated the healing power of humor by always finding the lighter side of a pessimistic prognosis or pesky new malady.
By 2015, the cumulative effects of her childhood cerebral palsy and orthopedic problems convinced Ann to relocate to Jackson to be closer to her brother and his family.
Ann adored her big brother, Rob, sister-in-law, Celia, and nieces, Morgan and Ella of Jackson. There, she was also welcomed by the caring and conscientious staff at St. John’s Living Center, where her infectious laugh and constant good cheer were known by all.
Ann was preceded in death by her beloved mother and father, Nancy and Dwight Wallace.
Services will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Jan. 19, at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Evanston, with lunch served afterward. Interment will be at a later date.
Those who want to send memorials in Ann’s memory are asked by her family to donate to St. John’s Hospital Foundation, PO Box 428, Jackson, WY 83001.
Condolences may be made at www.crandallfhevanston.com.
