ANNA L. EMAN

Anna L. Eman, or Grandma Ann, as she was widely known, died Oct. 6, 2004. A celebration of her life is scheduled for 3 p.m., Oct. 24, at the Dan and Shari Larson residence. People may call 376-1253 for directions.

She was born Oct. 27, 1907 to Earle and Mina Dillard in Beaverton, Ore., and raised in the Eugene, Ore., area.

On Sundays as a young girl she would travel with her family to Springfield to visit her grandmother and have homemade ice cream, since her grandmother had one of the few iceboxes around.

During World War I, as a young girl, she and her mother knitted sweater cuffs to be sewn on sweaters that were sent to the soldiers.

Mrs. Eman went to grade school and high school in the Eugene area. While attending the University of Oregon, her father was electrocuted at work, so she dropped out of college after that to care for her mother.

Thirteen months later, her brother, Kenneth, was electrocuted at work. A few years later her mother passed away and she was a wife and mother by then.

She worked hard all her life and often told stories of living through the Depression and how much things have changed in society over the decades.

During World War II, she was a captain in the Oregon Women's Ambulance Corps and told of how she even learned to drive a "big rig" and signal airplanes to land by flag signals.

She was involved in many different, multi-level, marketing plans and won awards and even a trophy for top salesperson in Watkins. She was active in a number of organizations over her lifetime, including, but not limited to, the Eastern Star, White Shrine, Masonic Lodge, Degree of Honor Protective Association and Amaranth & Beauceant.

She lived in Longview-Kelso, Wash., for a number of years and then moved to Portland. She stood on her back porch in 1980 and watched Mount St. Helens blow. Her son, Kenneth, was there with her and she talked often about watching the mountain blow.

She always had a story to share and could remember a conversation years later. In September 1999 she moved to Palmer, where she lived with her son, Ken Dillard, for two years.

She lived in Pat's care for one year in Wasilla, then moved to her granddaughter's in Meadow Lakes. There she lived with her granddaughter, Shari, and her husband, Dan Larson.

Her family said, "While living there she gave a wonderful gift of herself to those around her. Her great-great grandchildren had the blessed opportunity to know her the past two years. She would color with them and paint with them. She was going to teach them to quilt. She loved color, paint and most of all, to read. She always encouraged everyone to read! She passed from this world to the next . . . at home, peacefully and quietly with those who loved her by her side."

She is survived by 14 grandchildren, 22 great-grandchildren, and 11 great-great-grandchildren. Any donations to help with the cremation may be sent to The Larsons, P.O. Box 298835, Wasilla, AK 99629.