Obituary for Anna May McKairnes
On a bright sunny first day of Spring, Anna May McKairnes had a wonderful morning, one better than she had in a long time. Following breakfast, she laid down for a nap and peacefully transitioned to the place we all hope to go, heaven. We are sure that standing behind our Heavenly Father was a very long line of family overjoyed to see her. Without a doubt, she is dancing with Dad and Dee with moves that are tearing up the dance floor in glory.
Anna May was born in Philadelphia, PA July 15, 1937, to Edward and Philomena (Bowman) Cutter the fifth of six children. She closed her eyes for the last time on this earth March 19, 2024. Her life was full and contained many grand adventures. She raised 3 children while maintaining a career. Her brother Joseph recalls a favorite story about how Anna and her girlfriend frequently went to the theatre where American Bandstand was filmed in Philadelphia. On one visit, she was able to gain entrance and appeared on the show!!
Anna graduated from Nativity Business School in 1954 with a business certificate and spent many years working as a bookkeeper and in other office related jobs. In 1955, she married W.H. Reeves, a brief union that brought her beloved son, David Reeves into the world in 1956. In 1960 she met the true love of her life, Bernard McKairnes and they were married in Croydon, PA on February 11,1961. Doreen Marie McKairnes joined the family in July of 1962 and Karen Ann McKairnes arrived in September of 1967.
Anna loved her family deeply. Like her beloved husband Bernard, Anna’s work ethic was strong, and she willingly shared the task of supporting her family. While Dad worked 70-hour weeks, Anna worked her day job, came home to quickly prepare dinner, and go off to her night job. She worked evenings for many years as a sales associate for JC Penny, without complaint, to help provide what the family needed.
The Philadelphia years contain happy memories too numerous to count: trips to the New Jersey shore, the Pocono mountains, Sunday drives, time spent with her siblings and trips to the drive-in movie theatre, with Doreen safely tucked into a dresser drawer! As her son, one vivid memory I’ve hung on to all these years, is mom getting up at 5am to iron everybody’s clothes for the day. She did this for as many years as I can remember.
In the early 1980’s, the family moved to Houston, TX. In 1987, Anna and Bernard relocated again to Watonga, Oklahoma for Bernard’s new job and profession as a counselor. There were several more relocations after Oklahoma, which were to Dallas, then back to Philadelphia for a period, New Hampshire, Utah, back to Houston and finally to Springfield, MO in 2001.
As a devout Catholic, Anna and her husband Bernard were parishioners of Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton. When Anna was admitted to the nursing home, she was insistent on being able to attend Mass. David ensured she could attend for as long as she was able. She loved the Lord, and the church was extremely good to her. Her special care giver, Daisy, also took her to Mass. Daisy treated Anna like her own Mom, and they shared a special bond. Thank you also to her Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton family for the many years of help and support. Today, Anna is wrapped in the embrace and comfort of her heavenly Father.
Anna was dedicated to her children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren. Her 3 children blessed her with 7 grandchildren, who in turn blessed her with 14 great grandchildren. She loved each one of them deeply and often spoke with pride about her grands and great grands. There were many happy times with her family. I know each of her grandchildren have their own special Grandma and Grandpop story to share. I know Grandma’s wish for Young Dave, Austin, and Bailey, Naomi, Sasha, Mandy and Brian, would be to cherish the memory of how unconditionally she loved each of you. She would not want you to be sad.
It is never easy to reduce a life of triumphs and tragedies to a few paragraphs that can adequately capture the true spirit of that person. Anna was an extraordinary person who loved the Lord, loved her family, and worked hard to let all who knew her know they mattered. Her granddaughter Mandy said “Grandma had a beautiful way of making me feel her love my whole life. When distance separated us, her calls and cards were always the highlight of my day” There was no distance in her heart for the love she had, displayed in her bright beautiful smile.
Mom spent 3 ½ years as a resident at Republic Nursing and Rehab. The past year was difficult as she declined mentally, but the entire staff at that facility both, past and present, continually gave Anna great care and showed her an incredible amount of patience and love. The wonderful staff who unfortunately see people at the end of their journey, do what they do every day in such a special way, with patience, kindness and caring. Thank you to the entire staff, especially Elaine, Renee, Annie, Angi and Russ for the care, concern, and love for Mom. To the staff she was affectionately known as Miss Anna. To Mom, every staff member was Doctor Powers. Doctor Powers took very good care of her.
The sadness of Dad’s passing is still a wound that won’t heal. Dee’s passing has also affected our family in a deeply profound way. With Anna now called home, it adds greatly to the entirety of our sadness. We will all miss her terribly but are united by the warmth and love she gave each of us. As her son, I told her many times that the Lord blessed me with the most wonderful mother anyone could wish for. Her love I will cherish forever. We were all blessed recipients of her affection.
Anna is no longer a slave to physical and emotional distress. The fear, sadness and loneliness are gone. Her bonds have been removed and she is wrapped in the light, beautifully reunited with the loved ones so important to her. She closed her eyes and when they opened again, she was in a place filled with unimaginable beauty, warmth, and love. We all pray to be so blessed someday.
What I wrote when Dad passed is still appropriate and worth repeating for Anna: Those of us who are left behind will celebrate your life for the rest of ours. May you rest in peace immersed in the light and love of the Father.
I will miss you, Mom. The way your eyes lit up every time you saw me filled my heart with joy. I hope enough joy has been stored to last until we are together again.
Anna was preceded in death by her parents and siblings Ed, Peggy, Marlyn and Geraldine, and by her husband Bernard McKairnes and daughter, Doreen Marie Trevino. Left behind to mourn her passing are son David and wife Sheri of Springfield, daughter Karen Ann McKairnes of Woodward OK, son in law, Arvis Trevino of Kingwood, TX, grandchildren David, Austin, Bailey, Naomi, Sasha, Mandy and Brian as well as 14 great grandchildren, brother Joseph Cutter and wife Dottie of Maple Shade, NJ; nieces and nephews.
Visitation will be held from 10:30-11:30am on Friday, April 5, 2024 at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church, 2200 W. Republic Road in Springfield, MO. A Funeral Mass will be held at 11:30am with Msgr. Tom Reidy officiating. Burial will follow at Resurrection Cemetery in Springfield where Anna will rest eternally beside her husband and daughter.
Arrangements are under the care and direction of Herman H. Lohmeyer Funeral Home in Springfield, Missouri.
Permanent online condolences, stories and photos may be shared at www.hhlohmeyer.com.
To watch the livestream of the service, please click this link: https://www.facebook.com/Hhlohmeyerfuneralhome/videos/755403216705400. The livestream will begin about 11:10, for the eulogy before the Funeral Mass. Music streamed with permission under One License #A-607554. All rights reserved.
Anna May was born in Philadelphia, PA July 15, 1937, to Edward and Philomena (Bowman) Cutter the fifth of six children. She closed her eyes for the last time on this earth March 19, 2024. Her life was full and contained many grand adventures. She raised 3 children while maintaining a career. Her brother Joseph recalls a favorite story about how Anna and her girlfriend frequently went to the theatre where American Bandstand was filmed in Philadelphia. On one visit, she was able to gain entrance and appeared on the show!!
Anna graduated from Nativity Business School in 1954 with a business certificate and spent many years working as a bookkeeper and in other office related jobs. In 1955, she married W.H. Reeves, a brief union that brought her beloved son, David Reeves into the world in 1956. In 1960 she met the true love of her life, Bernard McKairnes and they were married in Croydon, PA on February 11,1961. Doreen Marie McKairnes joined the family in July of 1962 and Karen Ann McKairnes arrived in September of 1967.
Anna loved her family deeply. Like her beloved husband Bernard, Anna’s work ethic was strong, and she willingly shared the task of supporting her family. While Dad worked 70-hour weeks, Anna worked her day job, came home to quickly prepare dinner, and go off to her night job. She worked evenings for many years as a sales associate for JC Penny, without complaint, to help provide what the family needed.
The Philadelphia years contain happy memories too numerous to count: trips to the New Jersey shore, the Pocono mountains, Sunday drives, time spent with her siblings and trips to the drive-in movie theatre, with Doreen safely tucked into a dresser drawer! As her son, one vivid memory I’ve hung on to all these years, is mom getting up at 5am to iron everybody’s clothes for the day. She did this for as many years as I can remember.
In the early 1980’s, the family moved to Houston, TX. In 1987, Anna and Bernard relocated again to Watonga, Oklahoma for Bernard’s new job and profession as a counselor. There were several more relocations after Oklahoma, which were to Dallas, then back to Philadelphia for a period, New Hampshire, Utah, back to Houston and finally to Springfield, MO in 2001.
As a devout Catholic, Anna and her husband Bernard were parishioners of Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton. When Anna was admitted to the nursing home, she was insistent on being able to attend Mass. David ensured she could attend for as long as she was able. She loved the Lord, and the church was extremely good to her. Her special care giver, Daisy, also took her to Mass. Daisy treated Anna like her own Mom, and they shared a special bond. Thank you also to her Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton family for the many years of help and support. Today, Anna is wrapped in the embrace and comfort of her heavenly Father.
Anna was dedicated to her children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren. Her 3 children blessed her with 7 grandchildren, who in turn blessed her with 14 great grandchildren. She loved each one of them deeply and often spoke with pride about her grands and great grands. There were many happy times with her family. I know each of her grandchildren have their own special Grandma and Grandpop story to share. I know Grandma’s wish for Young Dave, Austin, and Bailey, Naomi, Sasha, Mandy and Brian, would be to cherish the memory of how unconditionally she loved each of you. She would not want you to be sad.
It is never easy to reduce a life of triumphs and tragedies to a few paragraphs that can adequately capture the true spirit of that person. Anna was an extraordinary person who loved the Lord, loved her family, and worked hard to let all who knew her know they mattered. Her granddaughter Mandy said “Grandma had a beautiful way of making me feel her love my whole life. When distance separated us, her calls and cards were always the highlight of my day” There was no distance in her heart for the love she had, displayed in her bright beautiful smile.
Mom spent 3 ½ years as a resident at Republic Nursing and Rehab. The past year was difficult as she declined mentally, but the entire staff at that facility both, past and present, continually gave Anna great care and showed her an incredible amount of patience and love. The wonderful staff who unfortunately see people at the end of their journey, do what they do every day in such a special way, with patience, kindness and caring. Thank you to the entire staff, especially Elaine, Renee, Annie, Angi and Russ for the care, concern, and love for Mom. To the staff she was affectionately known as Miss Anna. To Mom, every staff member was Doctor Powers. Doctor Powers took very good care of her.
The sadness of Dad’s passing is still a wound that won’t heal. Dee’s passing has also affected our family in a deeply profound way. With Anna now called home, it adds greatly to the entirety of our sadness. We will all miss her terribly but are united by the warmth and love she gave each of us. As her son, I told her many times that the Lord blessed me with the most wonderful mother anyone could wish for. Her love I will cherish forever. We were all blessed recipients of her affection.
Anna is no longer a slave to physical and emotional distress. The fear, sadness and loneliness are gone. Her bonds have been removed and she is wrapped in the light, beautifully reunited with the loved ones so important to her. She closed her eyes and when they opened again, she was in a place filled with unimaginable beauty, warmth, and love. We all pray to be so blessed someday.
What I wrote when Dad passed is still appropriate and worth repeating for Anna: Those of us who are left behind will celebrate your life for the rest of ours. May you rest in peace immersed in the light and love of the Father.
I will miss you, Mom. The way your eyes lit up every time you saw me filled my heart with joy. I hope enough joy has been stored to last until we are together again.
Anna was preceded in death by her parents and siblings Ed, Peggy, Marlyn and Geraldine, and by her husband Bernard McKairnes and daughter, Doreen Marie Trevino. Left behind to mourn her passing are son David and wife Sheri of Springfield, daughter Karen Ann McKairnes of Woodward OK, son in law, Arvis Trevino of Kingwood, TX, grandchildren David, Austin, Bailey, Naomi, Sasha, Mandy and Brian as well as 14 great grandchildren, brother Joseph Cutter and wife Dottie of Maple Shade, NJ; nieces and nephews.
Visitation will be held from 10:30-11:30am on Friday, April 5, 2024 at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church, 2200 W. Republic Road in Springfield, MO. A Funeral Mass will be held at 11:30am with Msgr. Tom Reidy officiating. Burial will follow at Resurrection Cemetery in Springfield where Anna will rest eternally beside her husband and daughter.
Arrangements are under the care and direction of Herman H. Lohmeyer Funeral Home in Springfield, Missouri.
Permanent online condolences, stories and photos may be shared at www.hhlohmeyer.com.
To watch the livestream of the service, please click this link: https://www.facebook.com/Hhlohmeyerfuneralhome/videos/755403216705400. The livestream will begin about 11:10, for the eulogy before the Funeral Mass. Music streamed with permission under One License #A-607554. All rights reserved.