Anna Margaret Wren Slone was born on Dec. 3, 1929 in Payette, Idaho. She passed away peacefully on February 11, 2023 at 93 years and 70 days old.

She was the first born child of Oren and Mallie Mae Phipps Wren. Anna Wren married Jack Slone on June 5, 1947, in Payette, at just 18 years old. That marriage lasted 42 years, until Jack’s death on July 20, 1989. She became a widow at 60 years old. Anna’s first daughter Patty Ann Slone, was born on July 22, 1950 in Payette, Idaho, and died on August 5, 1950 in Payette, living only 14 days.

The date of June 5th, the birthday of Anna’s mother, Mallie Phipps Wren, became a significant date, as her Brother Buster and Mattie, her son Don and Laurie, and nephew David and Janice Wren were all married on that date.

Anna was the wife of a cowboy, the wife of a rancher, the wife of a cattle truck driver, and then the wife of a rancher again. When Jack Slone moved her to Harney County to the Double O to manage the ranch of Myrthelene Hughet in 1956, she thought he was taking her to the end of the world. Her Uncle Duggan said as he was driving out there to visit, and after arriving he said it was ten miles of good road, ten miles of bad road, and ten miles of damn bad road. The road to the Double O was only paved to the bottom of Wrights Point on the north side at that time. The last ten miles is still not paved today. 

When they moved in the summertime to the Culp Mountain Ranch on Emigrant Creek, uncle Duggan had the same thing to say about that road. She really missed Payette and her family, but through the years, Burns became her home and she did not want to be anywhere else.

Once Jack was gone, she became a Caregiver to Millie Weeks, Jessie Hamilton, and Edna Haines. She was very good at that, and the three of them thought the world of her. She said she got a lot of experience taking care of three sisters and one brother in her teenage years, and even in her preteen years. Those years prepared her for becoming a Caregiver.

In her senior years, Anna volunteered at the Senior Center. She helped take meals to homes in the “Meals On Wheels” program for many years. When it was time to quit helping in that program, she would go to the Senior Center twice a week for lunch, always sitting at the same spot at the same table. Her other seven friends got there early everyday to sit, eat, and be together. That was a special time for her.  

For several years, every Sunday afternoon, during the winter months, Anna would go to the Senior Center to have a potluck luncheon and listen to the High Desert Fiddlers. She really enjoyed listening to them, especially Ruel Teague, Darrel Smith, Janet Brayman, Joan Suther, and many more of the musicians.

Anna is survived by her son, Donald Ray “Donnie” and Laurie Slone; and daughter, Marcia Kay Slone and Cliff Martell; grandchildren, Richard Duane Bazer and wife, Dana, Roger Dean Hirsch, Amy Martell Kluchesky and husband, Jeff, and Jeffrey Jack Martell and wife, Juliette; great-grandchildren are Tanner and Amanda Bazer, twins Chase and Hailie Martell and Chase’s wife, Tristan, Gabriella Martell, Chance Martell, Portia Kluchesky, and Wesley Kluchesky; her great-great-grandson, Daxton Martell; cousins, Margaret Cheney Ezell and husband, Tim, Bill and Lenny Biggs, Milton Conrad Phipps, Patricia Jewell Phipps, John Morrison Phipps,  Marta and Paul Woodworth, Marla McKenna Picket Stith and husband, Max.

Nieces and nephews surviving on the Phipps/Wren side of the family are; Sherrel Virginia Cross Gardner, Crystal Lynn Cross Ide and husband, Fred, Ronald Ray Cross, Robert Wayne Cross and wife, Ginger, Jodi Lynne Hancock Segel, Joni Leigh Hancock  Ferson and husband, Gabe, Teresa Renee Wren Borchik and husband, Ken, David Gordon Wren and wife, Janice, Lori Kay Wren Elerts and husband, Mike, Ruby Darlene Cassity, Kim Marie Cassity. Surviving nieces and nephews on the Slone side of the family are; Diane Slone Buffkin and husband, Donnie, Gary Joe Slone and wife, Cindy, Cheri Slone Seaward and husband, Gary, Bobbi Kent and husband, Jim, Sharon Rose, Harvey Rose and wife, Shena, Carol Rose Lee and husband, Robert, Melanie Rose, and Shannon Rose Montano and husband, Jerry. And of course all of these nieces and nephews kids and grandkids, which would total a lot more relatives.

There are a lot of superior adjectives that could be used to describe Anna. There are many more stories that could be told. There are so many great memories. But, good bye Mom, for now!

A service will be held here in Burns at the Senior Center (The Hub) on Saturday, Feb. 25 at 2 p.m. The Senior Center is located at 17 S. Alder Street in Burns, Oregon 97720.