Ann “Anne” Elizabeth Beall left loved ones near and far on Wednesday, September 6, 2023, at the age of 74, and joined her father and mother, Joseph and Dorothy Dowd, in Heaven. Anne and Laurence “Larry” Beall, married 54 years, raised their family in her hometown of Indianapolis, Indiana, before retiring to Burkesville, Kentucky nearly 20 years ago. She is survived by Larry; their children, Jennifer (John) McKinzie of Zionsville, Indiana, Ryan (Mandy) Beall of Portland, Oregon, and Lauren Broaddus of Indianapolis; their grandchildren, Conner, Greta, Tyler, Braden, Ellie, Parker, Maddie, Zach, and Maggie; and her vast extended family, including her siblings, Margaret, Mary, Susan, and Joseph.
It is an understatement to say that Anne did not know a stranger, as she shared her heart and light indiscriminately with others. “Darling” was one of her favorite descriptions, especially of babies, children, puppies as she reached out to them. She loved all of God’s creation and often proclaimed nature scenes as the “most gorgeous or awesome” that she had ever seen. And she saw a lot! She loved her Kentucky home and being on Dale Hollow with Larry and their dogs, but she took many opportunities to travel the rest of the United States. One of her mammoth trips, her brainchild, was taking her family – 18 of us – on a 2-week, RV caravan around Alaska for her 70th birthday! The memories she created for her grandchildren and children on this trip and many others will last a lifetime. Anne also traveled widely in the last several years with her dear sister Margaret, her best friend.
Larry and Anne were an unlikely pair, opposites in nearly every way, but they made it work with lots of love and commitment,along with Anne’s saintly patience.In retirement, they shared a love for the lake, their many dogs, and the simple life in “God’s country.”They made close friends in Burkesville, and Anne, often with Larry’s help, regularly volunteered at the Feed My Sheep food panty and Holy Cross Catholic Church and was involved in countless other community organizations. God was at the center of everything for Anne, and she was a faithful servant to the end, giving all of herself to others.
Anne never let much time go between seeing her children and grandchildren, who were the light of her life. When she wasn’t taking trips with them to Colorado, Hawaii, Alaska, Arizona,or Michigan, just to name a few, she was making the drive up I-65 for an action-packed visit with family and friends in Indy or flying to Oregon to be pampered by Ryan’s cooking. During visits, she was often surrounded by grands as she imparted wisdom and shared stories from her past, frequently interwoven with a few tall tales shared over wine, cheese, and Wheat Thins.
We were blessed with the most amazing wife/mother/grandmother/sister/aunt/friend, and we will be lost, for a bit, without our rock. But she built a strong foundation for us and filled our lives with love, laughter, and adventure.
Anne’s Memorial Mass will be at Holy Cross Catholic Church in Burkesville on Saturday, September 23, 2023, at 1:00 p.m. (2:00 Indianapolis time). Friends and family are welcome to attend a lunch reception following Mass at The Highland Chapel Methodist Church Fellowship Hall, 971 North Main Street, Burkesville, Kentucky.
Though Anne loved flowers, she would much prefer, if so inclined, memorial contributions to Feed My Sheep Food Pantry, 551 Beech Grove Road, Burkesville, Kentucky 42717 or Holy Cross Catholic Church, mailing address, P.O. Box 160, Albany, Kentucky 42602.
Norris-New Funeral Home in Burkesville, Kentucky is honored to be in charge of the arrangements.
