Annie was/is a remarkable lady, radiating authentic presence, and what we call natural decorum.   In the early '80's I coached the women's softball team at Kemmerer, WY - and as time passed, she was the team's Star second basemen.   My best memory of her was when the ladies of The Oasis Club beat the Liquor Locker team to go on to 1st place in the league. Many hard throws from her position on 2nd base smacking into my wife Skylar's mitt on 1st and huge cheers.  Besides being an awesome fielder, she could really drill a ball to right field.  Everybody on the team loved her.  Everybody.

I've just been searching through correspondence over the years that had her name on it, and remembered how accomplished a professional she really was as a (very distant) co-worker for a couple of decades.  I'm sure others will speak of her career.

But for me, it's funny that today I remember her playing softball, and buoying up a team of cantankerous ladies (and sometimes liquored up umpires) more than all the subsequent years that she was also "one of us" paleontologists, later a curator, finally a RM. I've always thought she should have somehow been treated ... I dunno .... better by our NPS.   I wanted to hire her here at John Day Fossil Beds.  Sounds like the folks at COLM took good care of her.  I guess things just are the way they are.

If I ever need an example of someone to illustrate that gentleness should never be confused with weakness, that strength lies in compassion, she's it.

with great, deep sorrow.

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Ted Fremd

Pacific West Region Science Advisor

US National Park Service