Anita Kathleen Sargent

Mom was born to Onesime and Bertha Marquis on April 5, 1923 in Calgary, Alberta Canada. The family immigrated to the Yakima Valley when she was six months old. She was the eldest of what ended up being a large family of ten children. She graduated from St. Joseph’s Academy here in Yakima. She met and married Walter Brown in 1939. They had three daughters, Nancy, Linda and Crete. She supported us always in any way she could, including being room mother, being a 4H leader, PTA leader and participating in Campfire Girls, and many other childhood endeavors. After working for the Federal Post Office as a mail carrier, Dad and Mom set their sights on orchard ranching to provide for the family. For thirty years they worked side by side. She attended Yakima Business College which allowed her to manage the books for the ever increasing orchard acreage, while Walt worked in the orchard and ran that end of the business.

While raising our family and ranching Mom was able to be a homemaker. She always said she was blessed by being able to do the things she loved: “homemaking,” cooking, sewing, interior decorating, entertaining, gardening (especially her roses), and helping with her grandchildren.

Retirement led to only five acres of orchard and a house with a pool, perfect for family gatherings. After 58 years of marriage, Dad passed away. Five years later George and she found each other and were married in 2002. Their life together was joyful. There was much time spent with family, friends and travel, fulfilling many lifelong dreams.

She was loving and inclusive of everyone, including all the support staff on cruise ships. Calling herself Grandma, she would say “Come get your kisses and hugs.” And come they did, waiting in long lines to receive her love and attention.

She was always encouraging and supportive to anyone who had a dream or a project they wanted to pursue.

Mom was a devout Catholic all of her life and a current member of Holy Family Catholic Church. Throughout her life she was very social and involved in many clubs, including Rosalma, West Valley Women’s Club, the Women’s Century Club, the Grotto, the West Valley Grange, and various church groups.

Anita was preceded in death by her parents Onesime and Bertha Marquis, her siblings Pat, Theresa, Ted, Clara, Benny and husbands Walt Brown and George Sargent.

Anita is survived by her children Nancy, Linda and Crete, and grandchildren Larry, Jay, Susannah (Tim), Kristina (Brian) and Karin (Erik). Great grandchildren are Tyler, Mariah, Payton, Reese and Christopher and her remaining siblings Cecelia, Romeo, Al and Richard and her step-children Keith (Cindy) and Carol (Darrell).

We are forever grateful to Solidad and Melissa for their dedicated care and love for Mother in her last year of life. We also say a huge thank you to Dr. Cornelius Brandt who cared for her so well for 53 years, and of course to the entire team of Hospice.

Visitation will be 4:00 - 8:00 p.m. Thursday, March 17, 2016 with a Vigil starting at 7:00 p.m. at Keith & Keith Funeral Home. A Memorial Mass will be at 10:30 a.m. Friday, March 18th at Holy Family. To share a memory of Anita, please visit www.keithandkeith.com.