RICHEY, Anna

The White Mountain Independent, Show Low, Arizona ~ 10/14/2011 Anna Peterson Richey, 87, a resident of St. Johns died Oct. 8, 2011, in Mesa. She was born Sept. 19, 1924, in St. Johns, the daughter of Brigham Young Peterson and Stella Jarvis Peterson. Anna was an Army wife through the war years of 1944 through 1946. She worked as a bookkeeper for Whiting Brothers and Richey Construction until her retirement in 1998. Anna successfully raised a large family, who have excelled in church, business, social, academic, and family pursuits. She was a church and community leader; serving 20 plus years in the Young Women and Relief Society organizations. She had a beautiful deep alto voice and sang with the award winning Gay Notes Quartet. Anna was an astute business woman. After graduating from Lambson Business College and working for others, she worked 35 years with her eternal companion in their successful construction business. They were married in the Mesa Arizona Temple in 1944. They traveled the world together before assisting in the building of the conference center as service missionaries for the church. Anna is survived by her husband, Philip Nielsen Richey; sons: Steven Keith of Conway, S.C., Clinton George of Gilbert, Jonathan Philip of Springville, Utah, Ronald Hugh of Mapleton, Utah; daughters: Marianne Taylor of Thatcher, Karlene Richey Rose of Gilbert; and Innette Crosby of Mesa; a brother Brigham Young Peterson Jr.; sisters: Ethel Hext and Lois Salisbury; 34 grandchildren and 29 great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents; sisters: Stella Whitmer, Pauline Hansen, Clara Beth Sudweeks (Tanner), Margaret Peterson, Ora Nelson, and Josephine Peterson; and brothers George Albert and Charles Jarvis Peterson. A viewing will be held from 10-10:45 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 15, at the Downtown Chapel of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in St. Johns. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. at the church. Interment will follow services at the St. Johns Westside Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the General Missionary Fund of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, in care of Bishop Steve Crosby, Salem Ward, PO Box 533, St. Johns, AZ 85936. To send an online condolence, visit Website: www.burnhammortuary.com. Burnham Mortuary of St. Johns handled arrangements.