Obituary of Annie "Anne" Wright Fernan

Annie "Anne" W. Fernan of Colorado Springs, Colorado passed away on March 1, 2021 at Penrose Main Hospital in Colorado Springs, Colorado.�On the day of her passing, her room had a beautiful sunny view of Pikes Peak and the surrounding foothills.�Anne was born at home in a very modest farmhouse located in Foreman, Arkansas to William Frazier Wright and Josie Green Wright on September 19, 1943. She was loved dearly and was her father Frazier's favorite, along with being his first born child. Although she did have siblings from her mother's previous marriage.� She attended Foreman High School and graduated there in 1961.�Anne went on to attend Texarkana College in Arkadelphia, Arkansas receiving an Associate of Science in May of 1963 and then on to Long Beach State College, in California and ultimately once married, to Fort Collins, Colorado to received her Bachelor of Science in Education from Colorado State University in Fort Collins. �Anne was a lifetime learner and searched out a career in Education and Counseling.� Although, she spent thirteen years working for the City of Fort Collins in the Planning and Zoning Department creating a nice home for her family.�She was passionate about her education and later in life, earned a Master of Education from Colorado State University and went on to council women in the Purdy Women's Correctional Facility in Gig Harbor, Washington.�Upon returning to Colorado in 1997 she was diagnosed with sarcoma cancer that took a toll on her and ultimately created her mobility issues. Miraculously, she survived and after her difficult battle with this first Cancer, she went on to complete her PhD in Education and Human Resource Studies from Colorado State University as well.� She continued her efforts to help High School kids as a Career and Guidance Councilor at Liberty High School in Colorado Springs, Colorado for several years.�Throughout the years she never stopped educating and correcting her only son, Adam's grammar and took great pride in reading a lot of books and writing her thoughts down.�She was an avid reader and attended book club and literature reviews and discussion groups with friends. At one time she told her friends that she should have pursued politics as she had a passion for it as well.�Throughout all of this, Anne was more than anything else, a loving mother, grandmother, sister, aunt and friend that would give the shirt off her back in an instant to help someone in need.�She cared about people, her family and friends in particular.�Anne was loyal to a fault and always looked at the bright side of things. She took an interest in your hobbies even if she had no idea and would ask good questions about your interests. Anne would encourage you to pursue what you enjoyed along with her interest in your hobbies. She took a genuine interest in everything that her son set out to do.�Even if it was the next cool car or project that he just didn't need. Anne was very good at staying in touch with her friends throughout the years.�Which actually got even better when she learned how to text message just a few years ago.She was kind, carried amazing generosity and would always listen with an open heart and mind to what we had to say without judgment. Although, she always had great advise and would be thrilled to bat ideas around in order to find a solution to one's problem or opportunity. Additionally, she always had a green thumb.�She loved beautiful flowers and enjoyed planting them, working in her yard, and gardening.�With the love of her yard, Anne also cared for nine - ten chickens and named each one of them.�She could tell you about each one's personality and antics in the coup.�She loved animals and would always refer to a friend or family members pet by name. She never forgot a name and always made sure to pronounce your name correctly. In fact she rarely forgot a detail in anything for that matter.�In particular, she absolutely loved her Grand Puppy Ella and was so happy to have taken care of her when she was little.� Along with the time in her yard and garden, she loved planting trees, typically of the fruit bearing variety.�She absolutely loved her roses, and was passionate about her heirloom tomatoes that she would share and make the best BLTs with her homemade bread.� Anne was a "foodie" before the term was ever coined on the cooking channels.�She enjoyed cooking, creating and baking for her family at any chance she had.�She would always ask her son what dessert he wanted for his birthday or holiday gathering.� Anyone that knows her will tell you that her specialty was Peach Pie, and Coconut Cream, always with a scratch made crust and filling. Anne loved to make the Family's traditional Christmas Eve lasagna and garlic bread as well. One big pan with Ricotta for the family and one little one without for her only son, Adam. He was so picky! �Buttermilk paprika chicken and her own sweet and sour chicken dish were her other specialties that she was so proud of, not to mention her St. Nicolas cookies and so many other Christmas treats and birthday cakes that have been melted into the memory of her, son, family and friends.�She also made the best dang bacon and egg sandwiches, hot sauce for Adam and just butter on hers.�Naturally, with eggs from those chickens out back.� Ironically, she also always loved bean and green chili burritos from Sam's in Fort Collins and had high hopes of going back for a visit or just to have a friend bring some down to her for lunch. �And if you ever picked up a hamburger for her, she insisted that ketchup was on the top bun and the mustard was on the bottom bun, and NO mayo! Additionally, when having a burger or pizza, you must have a Coke with it. � Anne cared about her home and always instilled the importance of having a "home" filled with things that sustained memories, created comfort, welcomeness, and things sparked her own emotion, inspiration and dreams.� She named her homes along with her sons home in Parker.� Her home in Tacoma, Washington was named "Rose Brier" for its beautiful grounds, lush trees and flowers; and she named Adam's home in Parker, Colorado "Moonrise", because on the first day of ownership, he told her about how the most beautiful moon rose up from the eastern horizon and it made such an incredible impression on both of them.�When speaking of her son going home, she would call it Home one or Home two depending on where he was staying that night and would always, ask if he was going to Moonrise.�Ironically, on the evening of the day she passed on to the Lord, the moon rose up bright on the same eastern horizon.� She loved to watch HGTV and all of the home and cooking programs, and enjoyed sharing the ideas that she came across.�It also goes without saying that Anne loved the ocean no matter where it was. Although, she always felt a calling to the east coast and Boston in particular. However, she truly enjoyed her time "by the water" when she lived in Washington state. Anne lived at her home alone and although, she had spent time in the hospital over the past couple of years, she always went home and got back to normal.�At the end of her life, she slowed down and couldn't do all of the things that she wanted to do.�However, her positive attitude and outlook, desire to be "home," the love she had for her grandson, Thomas, along with her will to survive kept her going until the bitter end. She wanted to be home with her stuff, and her baby (Thomas) as she put it.�Her home alone embodied everything important to Anne from family, positive thinking, accepting challenges, cooking and baking, her yard, her literature and every other thing that made her special, to inspire her family to live on and do the best with what they have and to enjoy their lives.�She loved completely and with her whole heart.�Anne will go down in history as a very driven "hard headed woman", with a lot of moxy that knew what she wanted and loved life to the fullest despite the difficulties and challenges that were thrown her way.�One word describes her and that is "perseverance"� however, no words can describe the impact she left on her son and so many others.�She will be missed greatly!She is preceded in death by her father, William Frazier Wright; mother, Josie Green Wright; brother, Leroy Wright; sister, Betty Wright; brother, Perry Wright; brother, Randy Wright; sister, Rachel Wright; nephew, Blue Wright; niece, Lynne Davis.� Anne is survived by her son, Adam Roark Fernan of Parker, Colorado; grandson, Thomas Theodore Burghardt-Fernan of Colorado Springs, Colorado; grand puppy, Ella of Parker, Colorado; ex-husband, Joseph W. Fernan of Ft. Collins, Colorado; brother, James (Jinx) William Wright; nephew, Sean Wright; brother-in-law, Peter Gulla; sister, Barbara Gulla; nephew, Brad Gulla; niece-in-law, Jill Boccuzzi-Gulla; niece, Samantha Gulla; niece, Marti Tillman Pageler; and many other friends that were impacted by her positive outlook and attitude.� While she did not succumb to the battle that she had with cancer over the years, memorial contributions may be made to a Cancer Charity of your choosing in Anne's memory.�The family wishes to extend their gratitude to all neighbors, friends and family that offered friendship and care when she needed it.� Anne W. Fernan and the impact that she left will not be forgotten.�Her name and genuine smile will be remembered and cherished into eternity with the Lord. Godspeed and just remember it's all "Peachy Keen", "One Bite at a Time..."� That is how you eat that elephant, and at the end of a typical conversation just before saying, "I love you." She would always say, "Don't let the bastards get you down�" before signing off until the next time.�And always remember and never forget, she loved to dance and always wore her red lipstick, red coat, and high heel not to mention driving her red convertible and wearing those fancy hats as the weather changed and she got older. You will be missed Mom! A private Memorial Service will be held 11:00AM, Friday, March 12, 2021.