Anita Lorraine Boylan

Anita broke the gender barrier early in her life after she apprenticed as a house painter and became a highly skilled journeyman painter for the State of Arizona. Anita was admired for her expertise and sense of humor in the workplace. She had a keen sense of justice and would work diligently to defend any coworker against any wrongness. Her crew nicknamed her STELLA and they loved calling it out loudly like Marlon Brando when she was high up on a ladder and they needed her help. She was beloved by her fellow tradesmen and maintained all workplace friendships after her retirement.

Anita enjoyed the outdoors and was a lifelong markswoman and gun enthusiast. She was presented with a hand made muzzle loader by her coworkers. When her gun collection was stolen they came immediately and presented her with a Ruger so that she would never go unarmed.

Her skill with guns was equally matched by her kitchen skills. She always prepared a large amount of food and baked breads so that she could take "care packages" to all friends who lived alone or who needed a nutritious meal.

Her yearly Mother’s Day high tea was highly anticipated by all who attended. She scoured the Food Network so that she could prepare and present only the most dazzling of recipes for her guests.

She embraced the dawn of the computer age in the 1990s and was an original beta tester of World of Warcraft and many other games. She was known as PAINTRESS to her many online friends. Anita enjoyed dressing up as a powerful and wise mage and with her sword and ale horn she roamed the countryside gatherings of her guild to mete out justice and share good times with friends.

Anita was preceded in death by her father, Lyndell Turner, a 33rd degree Freemason and is survived by her mother, Betty Turner, her brother, Gregory Turner, his spouse Caroline, her sister Deborah Thirkhill, her spouse Luke, seven nieces and nephews and their children. Anita was a member of the Order of the Eastern Star, Queen Esther chapter 22.

We will celebrate Anita Boylan's life on

September 30, 2017 at 1 PM

Masonic Temple

345 W Monroe St, Phoenix, AZ 85003

bring your Anita stories to share

On Sunday, October 1, 2017 we shall gather the strength of our family and friends and place Anita's sword "STELLA" into the rocky soil of the Mogollon Rim and scatter her ashes to the four winds.