RUSSELL, L. Anne

The Arizona Republic, Phoenix, Arizoan Sunday, September 1, 2013 L. Anne Russell passed away peacefully in her sleep on August 13, 2013 in Scottsdale, AZ, after enjoying an evening of music and singing - what she did best. Anne was born September 1, 1932 in Philadelphia and spent her childhood in Wheaton, IL. She studied mathematics at North Texas State where she met the love of her life, Jimmy Russell, on a blind date. Jimmy was so smitten by the beautiful redhead that he proposed to her just six weeks after that first date. Jimmy was a gifted and future professional golfer, so, of course, he had tee time at 8 a. m. the morning after their marriage. As a testament to Anne's love and strength,she always supported him in his golf ventures. Upon Jimmy's graduation, they moved to Graham, TX and then Amarillo, TX where he was a PE teacher and coach. They moved to Odessa, TX in 1958 where Jimmy was hired as the men's and women's college golf coach. During this time, their three sons were born, one in each city, and Anne settled into her role as mother and wife. When her sons reached school age, Anne commuted 300 miles a day to Sul Ross State University in Alpine, TX and completed her degree 14 years after starting college. She then got her first teaching job at Odessa High where she quickly became a favorite. The family moved to Socorro, New Mexico in 1969 when Jimmy landed his first head golf professional job. Anne resumed teaching and once again, her grace, confidence, and outgoing and nutty personality made her the most popular teacher in the school. Though popular she was no pushover. No one ever acted up in Anne's class. All she had to do was give them "that look". Her oldest son Mike had the unique opportunity of being in her class, for two years and considered her the best teacher he ever had. During the summers, Anne would drive her sons and their friends all over the state to play in junior golf tournaments. While the boys were playing golf, Anne would either explore the wonders of the area or set up her easel and paint a beautiful southwestern landscape. In 1973, the family moved to Yuma, Arizona where Jimmy and Anne opened the city's first public golf course. Anne assisted in the operation years and then went back to teaching math at Kofa High School, where she was once again loved and embraced by her students and faculty. From 1982 to 1985 Anne and Jimmy traveled the U.S. while Jimmy played golf on the senior Tour. While Jimmy was playing golf, Anne once again took advantage of the opportunity to explore. They retired for good in 1987 and, with Jimmy acting as the staff golf professional for the Princess Cruise Line, they saw the world at their expense. In later years, they spent their winters in Palm Springs and summers in McCall, Idaho. Anne was as intelligent and witty as anyone you would ever meet. She was also gifted in the arts, which combined with her mathematic mind, made a true right and left brained person. She was an actor, singer, artist, painter, accomplished knitter and quilter and an avid gardener and did cross word puzzles every day. She a member of "The Hottest Show in Town", an award winning barber shop quartet in Palm Springs and was a director of the local Sweet Adelines chapter. Any time she was on stage she OWNED it. But with all her talents, strengths, gifts and beauty, Anne will be most remembered for her unfaltering optimism and positive attitude. Life was always "peachy keen" to her even though she experienced challenges just like everyone else, one of which would buckle a lesser person. She spent over 2 years of her life, age 11 to 14, with rheumatic fever. While other kids were outside playing with their friends and going to school and enjoying their youth, Anne was confined to a bed. Perhaps it was this time spent alone where she developed her incredible strength and opimism. A few days after her passing her children came upon a small wooden plaque they had seen over the years. Somehow, with all the moves that Anne had gone through , this small plaque was always sitting there somewhere prominent. Inscribed on it were the words that Anne lived her life by: "Bloom Where You Are Planted". Anne is survived by her sister, Marion Nelson, her sons, Mike, Tom and John and grandchildren, Crystal, Steven, Melanie, Danielle and Jimmy and step grandchildren Gregg and Kyle as well as daughters-in-law Pam,Charlene, Kelly and Corrine.