Ann Jean Segrest

Ann Jean Segrest passed peacefully on April 4, 2023. She was born, Amaryllis Jean, on September 3, 1927, to Lila Fern Thorp Ferrell and Troy M. Price in Culbertson, Montana. Ann was preceded in death by her parents, Lila and Troy, and his beloved second wife, Ann’s stepmother, Mildred. Ann said she was incredibly blessed to have experienced the motherly love of Mildred. She was grateful for the comfort, encouragement, and support from her father and “mother” and felt they made a valuable contribution in her life.

Ann was raised in the Seventh-Day Adventist faith and attended SDA schools in Los Angeles, California. She received a diploma from the La Sierra College Preparatory Department (Arlington, California) in 1946, and completed a PBX course at the Mary Kay Business College in 1948.

As an early adult, Ann had her name legally changed from Amaryllis Jean to Ann Jean.

In 1955, Ann began employment as a comptroller in the Data Services Division at McClellan Air Force Base, California, where she would eventually meet her future husband, John. On July 2, 1960, Ann married John Henry Segrest in California. In 1965, Ann resigned her position at McClellan to stay home and raise her children. In 1967, the Strategic Air Command was moved to Wright Patterson Air Force Base in Fairborn, Ohio. Ann, John, and their sons followed the SAC to Ohio, as John was employed in logistics. They remained in Ohio, settling in Enon, for the remainder of their lives.

Ann is survived by her three sons, James Lee (Linda) of Carrollton, Ohio, John Henry Jr. (Jennifer) of Enon, Ohio, and David Troy (Dyann) of Springfield, Ohio, 5 grandchildren, 14 great-grandchildren, and 4 great-great grandchildren.

The legacy Ann leaves is her dedication, love, and talent for the art of tatting. Ann’s craftsmanship and dexterity with anything that involved thread or string was an attestation to her skills. She was considered an accomplished artist in the disciplines of tatting, crochet, knitting, embroidery (including the challenging art of pulled thread embroidery), bobbin lace, and bargello. Her creations were a source of fascination, beauty, and inspiration. Ann was a founding member of the Enon Tatters Guild. Memberships also included the Ring of Tatters Guild in the United Kingdom, Cardinal Tatters, Miami Valley Weavers Guild, and many more.

Ann loved sharing and teaching the art of thread craft and tatting at local churches, libraries, schools, heritage festivals (including the Enon Apple Butter Festival), and at local craft stores. For many years Ann made tatted snowflake tree ornaments every Christmas for each resident of a local Enon nursing home, The Inn at Fox Run. She broadened her knowledge and skill of tatting by traveling to other states to compete in tatting exhibitions, teach her craft, and most importantly, learn from the masters. She once estimated that she taught more than 1,000 people the art of tatting.

Ann was a lifelong learner. Her breadth and depth of the subject of history was a result of her life experiences, having lived through the Great Depression, WWII, the Korean War, Vietnam, and more recently, the Middle East conflicts. Many considered it an honor to converse with Ann, knowing they would gain insight and wisdom as she bestowed a wealth of knowledge concerning history.

Ann lived a long, fulfilling life, leaving family and friends with wonderful memories of her warm, kind personality.

On April 22, 2023, Ann will be laid to rest alongside her beloved husband, John, and near her parents, Troy and Mildred, in Enon Cemetery.

Burcham Tobias Funeral Home of Fairborn is handling Ann’s final arrangements. Condolences can be sent to the family at www.burchamtobiasfuneralhome.com.