Stories about Ann

This is where you will be able to tell the stories of your loved one. Friends and family can share entire chapters or just a few words about the departed.

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  • New Year's 2010

    by Tom Elder

    January 1, 2010

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    To all, friends and family alike, on New Year's Day:   The Hasidic master Rabbi Zusya, on his deathbed, said the following to his grieving disciples,  “In the coming world, they ...

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  • Merry Christmas Annie....

    by Lynn Mitchell

    December 25, 2009

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    As this Christmas evening is ending, I am reflecting on the joys of the season and this day, a bit more empty than in years past.  It is a beautiful evening in Tucson and the stars are beginning ...

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  • At the Medicine Wheel

    by Tom Elder

    December 21, 2009

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    At the Medicine Wheel I visited the Little Brush Creek Medicine Wheel with the Mountain Club on December 20th. Thus, it was actually Winter Solstice Eve.  We had received permission ...

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  • NPS Director Ends "Core Ops"

    by Tom Elder

    December 5, 2009

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    Posted December 4th, 2009 by Kurt Repanshek on his e-news site http://www.nationalparkstraveler.com/home In a brief, four-paragraph memorandum, National Park Service Director Jon Jarvis has ...

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  • Thanksgiving

    by Tom Elder

    November 28, 2009

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    On this, the first Thanksgiving without Ann, I am thankful for the wonderful friends who are bound together by their devotion to her.  I thank God for her family, and mine, for the support they ...

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  • Stikine's Passing

    by Tom Elder

    November 21, 2009

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    Dear Friends, Stikine had declined noticeably over the past week.  She was becoming incontinent, and her breathing was ragged and labored.  This morning, she couldn't move her bowels, ...

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  • Hounds of Heaven

    by Tom Elder

    November 21, 2009

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    The Hound of Heaven    "Halts by me that footfall; Is my gloom, after all, Shade of His hand, outstretched caressingly? 'Ah, fondest, blindest, weakest,  I am He Whom ...

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  • Ann our everyday saint.

    by Catherine Shaughnessy Brennan

    November 2, 2009

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    I was at Mass yesterday as we celebrated All Saints Day.  November starts the month we pray for all those who have died in the past year. Clare, Kevin and I entered Ann in our book of ...

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  • Photos of Ann's Kestrel Release

    by Tom Elder

    September 7, 2009

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    This was a wonderful though poignant event.  Photos courtesy Kathy Paulin and Loran Hills-Martin.

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  • The Kestrel's Release

    by Tom Elder

    September 6, 2009

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    Kestrel release day This is what I tried to say to the people who gathered at Remember the Maine: “Thanks for coming. This is the last official ritual in honor of Ann. Denise told me ...

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  • Annie's Falcon

    by Tom Elder

    September 5, 2009

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    Ann’s Falcon 18 "There are three things that are too amazing for me, four that I do not understand: 19 the way of an eagle in the sky, the way of a snake on a rock, the way ...

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  • The Resting Place for Ann's Ashes

    by Tom Elder

    August 17, 2009

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    Interring Annie's ...

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  • Another dedication to Ann

    by Scott Madsen

    May 28, 2009

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    Tom and friends, Last week the 8th Conference on Fossil Resources was held at the St George Dinosaur Discovery Site at Johnson Farm, St George, Utah.  It was a great meeting, well attended by ...

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  • Ann, still working miracles to protect the history of life on the earth !

    by Joan Anzelmo

    May 1, 2009

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      Dear Friends, I thought you would be happy to see this great progress towards the protection of our nation's paleontological resources. We know Ann devoted her life to this very ...

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  • Helper of the volunteers

    by Peter Sokolosky

    April 22, 2009

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    I recall with fondness how my acquaintance with Ann helped turn a crusty geologist into a kid again. It was not too long after arriving in Vernal and having met Ann in her professional role at ...

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  • Pictures from Maryland Service

    by Marty Herrin

    April 19, 2009

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  • Maryland Memorial Service

    by Tom Elder

    April 19, 2009

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    3200 Mar-Lu-Ridge Road, Jefferson, MD, 21755 East Coast Memorial Service Saturday, April 18th @ 4:00 p.m. Mar-Lu-Ridge, Conference and Educational Center 3200 Mar-Lu-Ridge Road Jefferson, MD ...

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  • Utah Memorial Service Saturday April 18

    by Tom Elder

    April 19, 2009

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    138 N 100 W, Vernal, UT, 84078 On Earth Day, at St. James Catholic Church in Vernal, Utah, we will have the Western memorial service to our beloved wife, sister, aunt, daughter, and friend Ann. ...

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  • What would Ann want?

    by Catherine Shaughnessy Brennan

    April 18, 2009

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    I am sitting here in Michigan on a beautiful clear and sunny 75 degree day which happens so infrequently here. There are no majestic mountains or cliffs to walk to and I am 2 hours ...

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  • Ann's Memorial Day

    by Tom Elder

    April 18, 2009

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    Early this morning, I made coffee, and drove up to Coyote Gulch.  Walking up in the half-light of dawn, I sat in my “interview” chair (a cheesy lawn chair that I have squirreled away ...

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  • across the street

    by mike nelson

    April 17, 2009

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    I miss living across the street from Tom and Ann, and what fun and great neighbors. I was very saddened by the news. Of course I immediatly think of past memories, and as it has struck many others, I ...

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  • Remembering

    by Wendy Christoff

    April 17, 2009

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    Remembering   It is said that you will remember someone by the way they made you feel. From reading all the great stories everyone has written about Ann I can truly see she made a lot of ...

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  • Every Dog's, and Dog Lover's, Best Friend

    by Sandy Hansen

    April 17, 2009

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    I met Ann eight years ago through Uintah Animal Care (UAC), a charitable organization that she was instrumental in founding whose members fostered and re-homed shelter dogs and cats.  ...

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  • ALWAYS

    by Matthew Wilson

    April 16, 2009

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    I remember the first time I met Ann. It was at a NPS ANCS+ training in Kemmerer, WY back in FY95. Boy... the stories she could tell about that quirky little town, but that's a whole other ...

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  • Our Sincere Sympathies

    by Glenn Fulfer

    April 16, 2009

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    To the entire NPS staff at Colorado National Monument and especially to Ann's family, all of us here at Salinas Pueblo Missions National Monument send our thoughts and prayers to ...

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  • Always Room FOr One More

    by charlie murray

    April 15, 2009

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    I’ve only know Annie for about the last 5 years.  But boy did she leave a lasting impression.  I will forever hold the time that I was blessed with knowing such a magnificent ...

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  • Remembering My Annie

    by Alison Eidsmore

    April 14, 2009

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    I knew Ann Schaffer but I did not know Ann Elder. From reading the stories here I wish I had. But nothing surprises me as the Annie I knew in school was on her way to great things. I ...

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  • Directions to Mar Lu Ridge (Memorial Service)

    by Tom Elder

    April 13, 2009

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    Directions to Salem on the Mountain Chapel at Mar-Lu-Ridge: From Baltimore- Take I-70 West toward Frederck, MD.  Take Exit 52 (Route 15 South/340 West). After approximately 6 miles, follow the ...

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  • Yes, I remember Annie

    by Denny Huffman

    April 13, 2009

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    I remember, Annie.  I’m certainly not alone in struggling to find the words to describe how I remember Ann, but I found some wisdom that for me brings a bit of focus – A friend is ...

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  • Not Just a VIP

    by Alma and Don Myers

    April 12, 2009

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    Dear Tom,   Don and I went with Ann to a lecture on Wednesday night, had pizza on Thursday night and waved goodbye to her Friday afternoon as she went into the CNM office to say goodbye to ...

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  • Ann and St. Francis of Assisi

    by Joan Anzelmo

    April 12, 2009

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      On this Easter Sunday as I think about my friend, Ann, I am reminded again of her radiant innate goodness, her countless acts of kindness given to all she encountered and ...

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  • HOPE

    by Cathy Wenz

    April 12, 2009

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    Dear Tom, When I called on Sunday March 29 and your brother told me that Ann was in the hospital, I was surprised to say the least.   I had no idea it was so serious.  I just heard ...

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  • Proud to call Ann my friend

    by Sue Husch

    April 12, 2009

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    Ann was one of the first people I met when I started work at the Dinosaur National Monument Quarry in 1990. Her calmness, intelligence, and friendliness drew me to her immediately. A few months after ...

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  • A life well lived

    by Brad Wallis

    April 11, 2009

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    Only once in a great while do you run across a person who, by their very nature, has a certain ease and grace about them. Ann Elder was that type of person. No matter what storms surrounded her, she ...

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  • Our very special friend, Ann

    by Mike Thompson

    April 11, 2009

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     What can I say about this wonderful, unassuming little woman that hasn't been said already? She was the most thoughtful, sincere, caring and compassionate person that you could ever meet. Your ...

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  • More photos of Ann

    by Tom Elder

    April 9, 2009

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    Our Annie lived life large;  she went places.

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  • Thank you, Ann

    by dave mills

    April 9, 2009

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    I enjoyed the great privilege of knowing Ann Elder.   I read in a novel that members of some southwest Native American tribe (Navajo? Hopi?) have a notion of the "valuable man." I ...

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  • Educating by love and example

    by Lynne Romney

    April 9, 2009

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    Dear Tom, Steve and I were heart sick to learn of the passing of your sweet Ann.  After reading through her memorial stories and your loving comments we regret that we did not know her ...

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  • Ann, we hardly knew ya'

    by Michele Murphy

    April 9, 2009

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    I rejoice in the fact that Ann touched my life.  I was just getting to know her, but the sight of her coming down the hall with a smile on her face & a bounce in her step will live in my ...

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  • Ann

    by Rula Bullock

    April 9, 2009

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     Ann had a great smile and a true spirit.  She was a very special lady and it was a gift to know her. May her memory be eternal and God bless you all. We are so sorry for your loss. ...

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  • Bob Cat

    by Dan Umstead

    April 9, 2009

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    I worked with "Miss Ann" at Mar Lu Ridge during the 1970s.  I remember that one week we were both working staff and were not assigned to a group of campers.  We were at the upper ...

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  • Remembering Ann

    by Marcia Fagnant

    April 8, 2009

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    I first met Ann during seasonal training at Fossil Butte National Monument in 1987.  I was a brand new seasonal excited to share the fossil story with visitors to this magnificent place.  ...

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  • Ann - You will be missed

    by Richard Millett

    April 8, 2009

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    I have known Ann for the past 23 years as I have worked for the Interemountain Natural History Association. During that time Ann was always helpful to the Association and went out of her way to ...

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  • To Ann

    by Vic Elder

    April 7, 2009

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    When I was young, those that knew me may remember that I was something of a crybaby. That's not to say that I was a sad child--far from it--but even into my elementary days, if I got upset, there was ...

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  • love

    by adrienne elder

    April 7, 2009

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    Dear Tom, How amazing you and Annie!!  You two are so special and wonderful. I have only questions,  love and compassion for you. We only see in the mirror only dimly now .... More ...

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  • love

    by adrienne elder

    April 7, 2009

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    Dear Tom, How amazing you and Annie!!  You two are so special and wonderful. I have only questions,  love and compassion for you. We only see in the mirror only dimly now .... More ...

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  • Today is a Beautiful Day...

    by Kathleen Warnberg

    April 7, 2009

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    Just wanted to say"Happy Birthday" Ann, we love you...

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  • A Nephew's Memory

    by Pete Schaffer

    April 7, 2009

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    I was having a discussion with my mother a few months ago; we were talking about what happens to people when they die.  My religious views aren’t the strongest but I like to think that ...

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  • Ann, I’m So Very Glad You Were Born !

    by Tom Elder

    April 7, 2009

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    April 7, 1958, was the day Ann Schaffer (Elder) was born.  April 7 will be a day I mark each year hence as I remember how lucky I was to have known Ann, albeit far too briefly.  Happy ...

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  • The Birth of Ann

    by Tom Elder

    April 7, 2009

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    Dear friends, This is a bad day for many of us, since it reminds us that we can't share a happy birthday with Ann. I spoke briefly with Joan, who said that she was going to celebrate Ann's ...

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