Ann Phyllis Walker
June 3, 1916 - May 13, 2008
Obituary
Ann Phyllis Dziedzic was born in Coleman, Alberta, Canada in 1916. Jacob Dziedzic, Ann’s Polish born father, supervised at the coal mines until he could purchase his cattle ranch overlooking the beautiful Livingston Mountain Range near Burmis, Alberta. Ann’s Mother, Anna Ziajka migrated from Poland first working in a New York cigar factory. Jacob saw Anna’s photo and paid her way from New York to Canada.
Ann had four brothers, John, Joe, Steve, and Mike and two sisters Mary and Rose. The family grew up working very hard on the ranch, harvesting hay and grains to feed cattle during the long Alberta winters, picking rocks to clear the ground, and tending to gardens and farm animals for food.
Ann had a feisty spirit from the start and as sister Rose expresses this, “had such a good time at my expense”.
Ann went to school with her siblings as horse Dolly drew the buggy. Coyotes often howled nearby. School days were short and then back to work to help make a living.
Ann was a cowgirl who could squirt cow’s milk into the open mouth of an eager barn yard cat from five feet away. She was natural on horseback, with and without a saddle.
When Ann was a teenager, a fortune teller told her that she would live under a different flag.
Ann met Charles Leonard Walker when Leonard was working wildcat oil rigs in the pass near the family ranch. They were married June 24, 1936 in Seattle, WA with Leonard’s mother, Esther Walker as witness. Ann was 5’3” tall, weighed 115 pounds, blue eyes, brown hair, and was of British nationality.
About two years later, on April 11, 1938, Ann officially crossed the Canadian border at Vancouver, British Columbia by automobile and emigrated to the United States at Blaine, Washington for permanent residency.
On December 1, 1942, she petitioned for naturalization as witnessed by Esther Woodruff Walker and her close friend, Rhea Parkhurst, both of Seattle.
Ann took the Oath of Allegiance and received citizenship on April 12, 1943. The American flag was proudly flown by Ann and was one of her favorite things.
This time period was toward the end of the Great Depression (1929-39) followed by World War II (1939 to 1945).
During lean times, Ann and Leonard lived on oysters and clams found on the beach and Ann picked strawberries to supplement their living. These difficult times had a profound effect on Ann’s outlook and resulted in her working very hard.
On a happier note, another of Ann’s most favorite things was her family.
Daughter, Caroline, was born in 1944 and son Charles (Chuck) in 1947. Sister Rose came and generously added a needed helping hand during extended visits.
Ann and Leonard owned a small chicken farm in Zenith Washington until the mid-1960’s. Chuck remembers cleaning the chicken pens with his Dad. Caroline remembers cleaning and packing eggs with her Mom. Ann and Leonard marketed the eggs at local stores and Johnny’s IGA was a good customer. The family lived on chicken, eggs, and their garden vegetables. Ann always had five gallon cans of ice cream and sherbet in her freezer.
Eventually, the family chicken farm was too small to compete. Ann went to work as a waitress at a popular family restaurant on Highway 99. She came home with her pockets full of tips. Caroline joined her as salad girl.
Later, Caroline took a job as nurses’ aide at Wesley Terrace and Ann joined her. Walking down the halls hand in hand, they were often mistaken for sisters. Ann continued in this field and became a Certified Nurses Assistant (CNA) and eventually retired from Wesley Terrace. She continued to work into her early 80’s as a part time home care provider. After a stroke in 1999, working became difficult and eventually she had to stop. Probably the hardest thing for her to give up was her work. She loved working.
When Chuck went into the Army about 1965, he sold his GTO Pontiac to his Mom. Ann enjoyed a lively lead foot in that sporty maroon car until she sold it to Caroline years later. Classy cars were always a favorite thing.
Ann loved her home of 32 years overlooking Puget Sound, her comfort and retreat.
Ann Walker
June 3, 1916 – May 13, 2008
These are a few of my favorite things
Family
Home
American Flag
Des Moines
Working
Tulips
Classy Cars
Jokes and Feisty Fun
Music
Fast Food
My Fair Lady, Riding Miss Daisy, and Yule Brenner in the King of Siam
