Obituary of Katherine Ann Brubaker

Ann Brubaker, 84, passed away with her husband and daughters by her side on June 11, 2020. She was born Katherine Ann Dumond, to Elmer and Cleo (Gribble) Dumond, of Lancaster, Texas, on August 26, 1935. Ann had three siblings, Robert, William and Shelly. She lived in the Dallas area until the age of 19 and graduated from Woodrow Wilson High School in 1954. Ann's asthma prompted a family move to Tucson, Arizona, where Ann attended classes at the University of Arizona. Ann's health impeded her schooling, and she began to work for the U of A Agronomy Department. It was while working there that she met and married Henry Brubaker, a graduate student at the time. They were married on March 28, 1959 in Duncan, Arizona, Henry's hometown.Henry's jobs in the farming industry moved them around to various Arizona towns, including Casa Grande, where their daughter, Allyson, was born in 1963; Yuma, where their daughter, Annette, was born in 1967; Parker, and eventually Wickenburg, where they settled for forty-six years. Both daughters graduated from Wickenburg High School.Ann was always involved in church and community activities. During her time at Wickenburg Presbyterian Church she served as Sunday School Superintendent, Deacon, Elder and Chairman of Missions, and as a Stephen Minister. Ann received the life membership award from the Presbyterian Women of Wickenburg. She led Vacation Bible School for several years, helped with the annual church bazaar, and participated with the sewing and quilting groups at the church. She cherished her time with the Nifty Needlers.In the community, Ann served with the Wise Owl, 4-H, PTA, Habitat for Humanity, the Nature Conservancy Hassayampa River Preserve, the Soroptimist Club, and the Desert Caballeros Western Museum. She was an also an active member of PEO for many years. Ann was a strong woman of faith, a devoted reader of the Bible and other literature, and a treasured friend. She enjoyed entertaining and playing bridge. She loved the Arizona desert and was an avid bird watcher. She believed strongly in living within one's means and was an expert at budgeting and intentional frugality. She shared this skill with many families through her work with Habitat for Humanity. Annie was a faithful wife, a loving mama, and an adoring "Granny Annie" to her five grandchildren. She had beautiful hands and a precious way of soothing infants with a warm bath. She was an amazing homemaker and provided a safe harbor for her family. She blessed her family and many others by showing and teaching them how to walk in faith. She leaves a beautiful legacy for her family and is dearly missed. For health reasons and with great sadness, Henry and Ann left their Wickenburg home, church and friends in October of 2019 and moved to Colorado Springs, Colorado to live with their daughter, Annette, her husband Brett Ridgway, and their children. Ann's health rapidly declined in 2020 and she passed from this life into eternal life on June 11. She "entered his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise". Due to the coronavirus, a private memorial service will be held in Colorado Springs, Colorado.Ann is survived by her husband, Henry Brubaker; her daughters, Allyson Brubaker Searway and Annette Brubaker (Brett) Ridgway; her grandchildren, Justin (Rosita) Searway, Emily Searway, Laura Ridgway (Corey) Craddock, Julia Ridgway (Elijah) Davis and Brian Ridgway; and sister, Shelly Dumond (Charles) Watson of Tucson, Arizona.