Anna's dream for retirement was for her and her husband to be campground hosts at National Parks across America. Their dream was cut short due to early-onset Alzheimer's which started at the age of 52. Anna had visited almost every single National Park (minus Dry Tortugas and the American Samoa). Anna and Jim celebrated their 25th wedding anniversary hiking in the backcountry of Glacier National Park and stayed at the Swiss-themed Chalets. They helped with a mule train accident on that hike. They visited Yellowstone National Park where their daughter worked. They would spend entire months camping in a F-150 Pickup truck visiting these National Parks dividing the lower 48 up into four quadrants (SE, SW, NW, and NE). They later visited National Parks in Hawaii and Alaska by flying and camping. Since they married on their lunch break in a courthouse they renewed their wedding vows on their 35th wedding anniversary in Hawaii at the Haleakala National Park. 

 

Growing up as a poor hillbilly Anna knew how important it was to protect these places for everyone to enjoy regardless of your background or economic status. She knew that parks help you revitalize your soul and spirit. 

 

"Everybody needs beauty as well as bread, places to play in and pray in, where nature may heal and give strength to body and soul alike." --John Muir

 

Please leave a donation in lieu of flowers to honor Anna's love for the National Park Foundation through her page. All donations are tax-deductible and support the parks she loved. Please feel free to leave notes and memories to share with everyone on the message board. The family looks forward to reading them.

 

We thank you for honoring Anna's love of National Parks as well as the National Park Foundation.