Anna S. Lucas

Anna S. Lucas, 89, a long time resident of Everett, Wash. died April 22, 2022 joining her beloved husband Bill and daughter Mary. She was born in Mineola, Long Island, New York on December 13, 1932, to parents Henry and Sophie (Kramer) Schmidt. She resided in New York for nine years. When she lived in New York she became an accomplished pianist and would travel into the city of New York with her father to perform on a local radio children’s talent program. Her piano teacher encouraged her to try out for the national Major Bowes Amateur Hour radio show on NBC and CBS radio. She got accepted, but because of the war her father lost his job and he left for Stanwood, Wash. to take a job with his uncle Karl at the Stanwood Steam Laundry and the family soon followed so she could not take part in the national radio show. They stayed in Stanwood for a short time and in 1943 to 1953 the family owned and ran the Sandy Beach Grocery Store in Lake Stevens. They lived in the back of the store before moving to a house behind the store.

Anna attended and graduated as the Salutatorian of Lake Stevens High School class of 1950 at the age of 16. She gave the Valedictorian speech as the Valedictorian of her class had taken off to college by graduation time. She played tennis and became the Snohomish County Women’s Tennis Champion.

Anna attended the University of Washington graduating with a degree in Education Phi Theta Kappa honors. She worked at Scott Paper Company when not attending school. Upon graduation she got a job as a teacher along with her life-long friend Edythe Pavish at the first year of the new Emerson Elementary School in Snohomish. She then transferred to teach several years at Madison Elementary in Everett. At the same time, she was working on her Master’s Degree. She never stopped bringing up how close she was to finishing at the time she started having children and with her first two being born a year apart she stopped teaching.

Not afraid of a challenge at the time with four young children in 1964 Anna wanted to be in business for herself she found a restaurant named “Beefy’s” at 2030 Broadway in Everett that was for sale. Along with her brother Fred Schmidt and on paper only the purchase was made, and “Herfy’s Restaurant” became a reality and an iconic burger joint that many people to this day have lasting memories of great food and the times they had either worked there or were a patron. This venture led to 10 restaurants spanning from Whatcom, Skagit, Snohomish and Pierce counties. She became a trailblazer as a woman business owner in the early 1960’s. She did what her father told her, “Get into business for yourself. Don’t punch somebody else’s time clock”.

Anna was one of the original founders of the Everett Sausage Fest. She was one of the earliest members of Kidney Auxiliary of Puget Sound (KAPS) and a founding member of the Woman’s Book Club, Sages. Her proudest contribution was to St. Vincent de Paul food bank at Our Lady of Perpetual Help. She left a credit card on file at Cash and Carry for purchases to be made for the food bank to help supply the necessary food for people in need that were not already donated.

Anna helped numerous youth in her life reach their potential success. This made her very proud.

Anna was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Dr. William H. Lucas, and her daughter Mary Maher.

Anna is survived by daughter Linda Lucas of Marysville, sons Dr. William H. Lucas, Jr. (Lisa) of Clinton, Michael Lucas (Celeste) of Burien, son-in-law, Dennis Maher of Mill Creek; grandchildren, Ryan Dean (Raelyn), Michael Dean (Alexis), Kaitlin Dean (Derek), Megan (Lucas) Famelos (John), Amy Lucas, Jane Lucas (Keegan), Bryan Lucas, Anna (Maher) Clouse (Zander), Alison Maher, Madeline Maher, Darby Lucas and Rosa Lucas; great-grandchildren Isabella Revord, Lillian Revord, Henry Dean, Emelyn Dean, Graham Dean, Frances Dean, Payton Famelos, Avery Famelos ,Harper Famelos, and Callahan Clouse; brothers Fred Schmidt (Peg) of Lake Stevens, Dr. William H. Schmidt (Susie) of Marysville, and Susan Benson sister-in-law of Falmouth, Maine; and many cousins, nieces and nephews.

Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 11:00 am Thursday, May 12, 2022, at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church, 2617 Cedar Street, Everett. Mass officiated by Father Joseph Altenhoffen. A reception will follow at Hensen Hall.

Thank you to the staff of View Ridge Care Center for the loving care of our mother Anna.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to St. Vincent de Paul food bank c/o Our Lady of Perpetual Help, 2430 Hoyt Ave., Everett, WA 98201 or Seattle Children’s Hospital in memory of Anna S. Lucas c/o of the Lucas Family, P.O. Box 956, Everett, Washington 98206.