Ann died peacefully in her home, next to her loving husband, on July 5, 2015. We are sad that Ann is no longer with us, but we know that she is now at peace and is with her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. We are sure that Ann is now rejoicing with her beloved son, Tom, and her wonderful parents, Kathleen and Lee Duggan.

Ann was born in Houston on October 27, 1938 and remained there until she graduated from Lamar High School in 1956. As always, she was an active member of the community and was a member of both the National Honor Society and the ROTC sponsors.

After high school, Ann attended the University of Texas at Austin where she met Byron. Although she began her studies as a liberal arts student, she opted to put her studies on hold and instead received her MRS degree in August, 1957 when she married her loving husband of fifty-eight years.

After a wonderful honeymoon in the Bahamas, Ann and Byron packed their pickup truck with a saddle, refrigerator and their birddog King and headed for the beautiful Flint Hills of Kansas. There they began married life on the ranches that had been in the Crocker family since the War Between the States.

Ann, a city girl, adapted to ranch life like a duck to water. She became an expert gardener of both flowers and vegetables and also became both a gourmet cook and hostess in short order. Her years on the ranch also witnessed the birth of two wonderful sons, Mason Lee in 1958 and Thomas Byron in 1961. Ann loved being a mother and wife and devoted herself to caring for her growing family.

Never shying from new challenges, Ann even wanted to become a cowgirl. Unfortunately, our gentlest horse, Silver, didn’t want to cooperate with Ann’s plans. One day, with Ann on his back, he bolted. Ann hung on but finally fell and sadly broke her tailbone. Their mutual dislike continued when Silver chased Ann up seven steps and onto the front porch where she was able to escape through the front door, locking it behind her – just in case.

After six, happy years on the ranch, Ann’s cowboy husband received a call from God to herd sheep rather than cattle. Ann had come to love ranch life so much that she was not at all thrilled with the prospect of becoming a “preacher’s wife”. After many tears and much packing, Ann and family moved to the west coast.

Ann was surprised and excited to experience the crazy culture of the early 1960’s in the Bay Area of California. She found a warm and loving community in Berkley and formed many wonderful friendships with both students and faculty at the Episcopal Theological Seminary and her surrounding neighbors.

With both of her boys in school, Ann found a bookkeeping job at the best flower nursery in the Bay Area. With the many plants and flowers she brought home, Ann created a beautiful garden full of color. This would be the first of many homes in which Ann would use her special ability to create beauty around her in which to share time with family and friends.

Ann fell in love with the people and places everywhere she lived. So much so, that every move inflicted its own wound, the pain clearly illustrated by the cascades of tears which would follow. She followed her husband from California to Brownsville. Two years later it was on to San Antonio. Three short years later the call to move to Beaumont came.

Perhaps weary of Byron’s vagabond ways, she asked “How long will we stay?” Predicting only five to eight years, Byron proved that although a priest, he was certainly not a prophet. For forty-four years Ann shared her life and her love with the people of Beaumont.

In addition to spending time with family and friends, Ann loved to travel. We were so fortunate to have been able to experience wonderful trips to England, Scotland & Ireland along with visits to most of the other countries in Europe. Ann’s love for animals drew us to take a photo safari in Kenya & Tanzania. Our extended family all travelled to China to meet our nephew’s family members and to enjoy the remarkable sights.

Ann loved all of our dogs, but had a special place in her heart for our little Yorkie, Abbey Rose, who adored Ann and was her constant companion for fourteen years. More recently Buddy, our wonderful rescue dog from the Humane Society of Southeast Texas, was such a comfort to Ann and would sit with her for hours. Ann’s devotion to all God’s creatures was evidenced by her support of many charitable causes.

For the past eight years Ann has gracefully waged her battle against the effects of Alzheimer’s. Every one of those days, she was cared for by her loving husband who stood by his promise to her. Byron was aided during the last several years by Ann’s caregiver Terry Owens, whose love and support has been invaluable. For the past nineteen months, the excellent and caring staff of Texas Home Health Hospice made it possible for Ann to remain in her home where she so wanted to be.

Ann is greatly missed by her loving husband; her son, Mason and his wife, Darla; her grandchildren, Robert Neumann, Madison Crocker, Mackenzie Crocker and Matthew Crocker; her brother, Lee Duggan and his wife, Annette; and by all those whose lives she has touched in so many ways.

She is preceded in death by her parents, Kathleen and Lee Duggan; and son, Thomas Byron Crocker.

Mrs. Crocker’s memorial service will be 2:00 p.m., Saturday, July 11, 2015, with a reception to follow in The Cloister, at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church, 680 Calder Avenue, Beaumont, under the direction of Broussard’s, 2000 McFaddin Avenue, Beaumont.

Memorial Contributions may be made to St. Mark’s Episcopal Church, 680 Calder Avenue, Beaumont, Texas 77701; St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church, 4090 Delaware, Beaumont, Texas 77706; Alzheimer’s Association, 700 North Street, Suite M, Beaumont, Texas 77701; or The Humane Society of Southeast Texas, P.O. Box 1629, Beaumont, Texas 77704.