The medical field conflicted with raising a family, so she went to work for The Edmonds School District in 1966. She worked as Library and Technology Specialist, and never too old for education, she took many classes to keep up with technology.  Thirty years later she retired in 1996 from Mountlake Terrace High School after receiving many awards for her service.

When Ann and Neal started thinking about retirement, they hoped for a place on the water with a view in the mountains but were told to forget it. They camped in the Plain area before and knew the area as a place they wanted to live. Ann loved the rural beauty and country farms in the area, which reminded her of her childhood. In 1977 they purchased their property and started to clear, and level the land.  No one really understood the challenge they faced, but Ann and Neal always felt a challenge should be part of their life. They designed and built their log home, while no contractors were ever used in the building. They built a bulldozer, a sawmill, cut their own lumber, logs, burned rocks etc., and all of this was a big challenge because of the steep terrain of the property.

In building of their home the hardest was the death of their son Greg, who was killed on Stevens Pass coming over to help on the log home.  Years later, husband Neal had a heart attack and open heart surgery, then subsequently came down with lung cancer which ended his life.  With some of the home on the river not yet finished, Ann with help from some friends, finished building the log structure. She still has some things she would like finished but as she says it will always be something and life goes on.

Ann is a strong and caring person and has experience a lot of grief, but has given a lot of herself to her church, community and family. She is involved in grief work in the Seattle and Wenatchee area, and has been recognized for her service in this work. She is involved in many local organizations and keeps the Just Plain Seniors very busy. She is known in the Plain area as Martha Stewart although she is unsure if this is good or bad. This nickname was given to her by her former Pastor, Ed Anderson.

Ann lives in the home that was built for those golden years of retirement. She enjoys many crafts and has many hobbies. Her daughter Linda and family live in Missouri, son Mike and family live in Everett, Greg’s wife and son live in Shelton. She has seven grandchildren and waiting to be a great grandmother. She loves it here but taking care of her home is hard especially in the winter. She takes one day at a time and as long as God keeps her heart beating and her feet moving, she will continue giving of herself to others.  Her motto is to enjoy each day that God has given her.