Ann was born in Davenport, Iowa on October 25, 1937 to John Edward (“Doc”) and Florence Edgarda (“Flo”) Castleman Christiansen. Ann’s father was the family doctor in the small town of Durant, Iowa. Florence not only made their home and raised their 6 children, she also administered Dr. Christiansen’s medical practice. Ann was the older sister to her five siblings, Mary, Susan, Judy, John, and Tom. The Christiansen’s were pillars in the Durant community and in the St. Paul’s Episcopal church where they sat in the front right pews, each Sunday morning. Friends and family relay grand memories of the adults playing bridge, singing around the piano and the kids playing hide and seek at the Christiansen family home. Of course, many people remember Doc for setting broken bones, giving shots, putting in stitches, and delivering babies. It is fair to say, it was a busy home. As the oldest, Ann was a solid oak to the foundation of the family home.
In high school in Durant, Ann was co-captain of the basketball team and she was in Glee Club and Choir. She was also in Drama and Book Club and served as a sports editor for the newspaper. In her senior class yearbook, she left her quote as “I have a heart with room for every joy” and that proved to be true throughout her life.
Ann’s parents encouraged her to go to college. She chose to go to the family favorite: The University of Iowa in Iowa City where she earned her bachelor’s degree studying Psychology and Sociology. This is where Ann met her soulmate and the love of her life, Jerome Coover (“Jerry”) Smith. They met in a huge lecture hall where Jerry saw Ann and after a few days, he went to sit by her. The two got married in Cedar Rapids on December 18, 1958 and enjoyed a great, long life together. They had four daughters, Susan, Cathy, Sandy, and Amy between 1960 and 1968.
The Smith family lived in Chicago and Philadelphia before settling in Marshalltown, Iowa where they thrived until 1978, when Jerry was transferred to Dallas. The daughters have fond memories of life in Iowa including huge snow drifts, corn fields, rolling hills, and road trips from Colorado to Wisconsin and everything in between. Ann was a stay-at-home mom who was always there when the girls returned from school. She delighted the girls by putting a surprise piece of homemade fudge in the bottom of their popcorn bowls; making them sack lunches to enjoy under the shade in the summer Iowa heat; and allowing them to have pets and horses.
Ann was raised as an Episcopalian and the Smith’s raised their daughters as such, each christened in the church. Ann loved the bible and Jesus. She loved singing from the hymnals and the Smith girls remember the beautiful season of Christmas as a glorious family event, filled with love. Ann’s faith in God kept her strong throughout her life.
In the late 80’s Ann and Jerry retired to Lake Cypress Springs which became their most beloved home. Ann tended to hydrangeas and bougainvillea while Jerry painted and improved their home. They went on long walks in the beautiful east Texas pines. They had papillon dogs and always a cat or two. Ann loved to enjoy the big deck overlooking the lake and she formed many friendships. Their home became a gathering place for many Thanksgivings, 4th of July celebrations and in-between moments for the whole family.
Ann and Jerry, like most grandparents, spoiled and doted on their grandkids. They each have their own stories of special moments and memories with their loving grandparents.
In 2016, the Smith family had the amazing experience of meeting the 5th sister, Mary, who Ann gave birth to in 1957 and had to put up for adoption. The Smith family all agree that any other outcome would have left a huge whole in the universe as Mary has enjoyed an amazing life and has four children and 8 grandchildren. Though Mary was adopted as an infant, she always felt the utmost gratitude to Ann for placing her with adoptive parents who loved her unconditionally and gave her everything that Ann could not. Mary has been a part of the Smith family since the day they met, and this occasion brought Ann peace as she had always wondered and worried about the baby.
Ann loved playing bridge and mahjong and she read the newspaper and did the crossword puzzle daily. She was an amazing cook and caregiver. Her daughters remember her warm, loving way of caring for them when they were sick. For most of their elder years, Ann was Jerry’s primary caregiver during his long ride with Parkinson’s.
Ann had a green thumb and plants thrived under her love. Not only did plants thrive, but friendships also thrived under Ann’s love. She never met a stranger, and her friends loved her generous, giving nature. Ann used to love going thrift store shopping with friends and she would come home delighted with the treasure trove of things she couldn’t resist.
Ann was a lifetime volunteer. Her special favorite positions included driving the van for the City of Richardson Senior Center and being a hospice volunteer. Ann’s appreciation for hospice gave the family so much peace as they experienced the process twice in one year with Jerry and then Ann. When her daughters were crying over Jerry’s death, Ann said, “why are you crying? You should be happy! Dad is in heaven with Jesus and free from his pain.” Ann understood death better than most people.
If you knew Ann, you knew she loved to sing! She sang her way through life, and she sang to her kids and grandkids. When she wasn’t singing, she was humming. She loved hymns and children’s songs the most. Near the end, her caregivers sang to her and encouraged her to sing to bring calm and peace.
Ann’s greatest love was Jerry. They held hands and snuggled and loved so well. They spent every moment together and when Jerry passed on March 14, 2022, Ann was initially very present and strong, but it was very difficult as she had never lived alone and Jerry was always there, holding her hand and loving on her. After six months, Ann expressed the desire to go “be with Jerry” and little by little, she faded from this earth. The family can imagine them holding hands in heaven.
Ann is survived by her sister Susan Decker and five daughters and sons-in-law: Mary and Brian Enata; Sue and Walt Chandler; Cathy and Kevin Mulholland; Sandy and Dennis Sweeney; and Amy and Paul Bravo. Her grandchildren are Amanda Mast and husband David; Barb Andres and husband Matt; Ryan Enata and wife Nichelle; Jenny Watson and husband Michael; Travis Hall; Haley Hall; Shannon Sweeney; Chris Mulholland; Kelly Johnson and husband Ryan; Kristen Chandler; Kyle Chandler; Amy Chandler; Joey Bravo; and Tony Bravo. Ann also has ten great grandchildren: Tanner and Brynn Mast; Winley, Edison, and Crosby Andres; Olivia Enata; Zadok and Quinn Watson; Carly Ann and Hayden Leroy Johnson.
A Memorial Service will be held at a later date where Jerry and Ann will be interned together at the National Cemetery in Dallas.
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