Anna May Arthur

Anna May Arthur, 70, of Tacoma WA, passed away in her sleep on May 28th 2022 in Chehalis WA. She was a loving wife of over 48 years to husband Steven, a mother to two daughters, grandmother to three grandsons.

Anna was born on April 21st, 1952 in Tacoma Washington to Leander and Nellie Heitman. She was raised with two younger brothers Charles and Vincent on Water View Street until they moved to their family home on 43rd street where she would later raise her family. Anna attended Sherman Elementary, Holy Cross Parish School, and Wilson High School. While attending Wilson she met the love of her life Steven Arthur. After graduation Steve and Anna dated for a short period before marriage on June 15, 1973.

In addition to her biological family, Anna embraced the opportunity to shape the lives of hundreds of children – many of whom called her their second mother or Nana – through a daycare she opened at 19 years old and ran out of her home for 47 years in both in Tacoma and while stationed with Steve in Hawaii.

Anna was a devout Catholic attending Holy Cross from an early age with her parents and then raising her girls in the faith. She sang in the choir for many years with her girls in tow, was a part of the parish council and worked in the Sunday school program as an assistant and teacher working with the younger children.

She loved being outdoors whether it be camping and fishing with the family, taking a drive to the waterfront for ice cream, or outside in her yard. She loved to garden and was often seen pruning and watering her plants. Anna was a story teller and could relate to anyone with a story making them feel heard and cared for in a short time. Many have shared she was a loving, caring, and nurturing woman whom made anyone feel at home.

Anna is preceded in death by her mother Nellie, father Leander, brother Charles, and cousins Carla and Sherry. She is survived by her husband Steven, and daughters Melissa (Joshua), Amanda (Robert), and grandchildren William, Benjamin, and Charles as well as her brother Vincent, nieces, nephews, great nieces, great nephews and godchildren she dearly loved.

Funeral Mass will be held on June 27th at 11am at Holy Cross Church in Tacoma, luncheon to follow. Internment on June 28th at 12:30pm at Tahoma National Cemetery. 

If you would like to honor Anna please make donations please send them to Holy Cross Church in Anna’s name.

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