Anne Maurine Butler Finklea was born in Tsinan, China on October 25, 1925 to missionary parents Maurine Goodman Butler and Rev. Dr. David Campbell Butler. Times were turbulent in China with fighting going on between General Chiang Kai Chek and the war lords. Her father decided to serve only one five year term as a Presbyterian missionary. Her sister, Betty Wiseman, was 5 months old when they went to China, sister Barbara Rickert (deceased) was born in China. The family returned to the United States and settled in Commerce, Texas where Dr. Butler joined the faculty of East Texas State Teachers College. Sister Myra Mabry was later born in Greenville, Texas because commerce did not have a hospital. Anne attended school from kindergarten through college there and graduated with honors at East Texas State Teachers College. She then earned a MA-Ed from the University of Texas in Austin, Texas. She taught in elementary schools in Bryan, Texas, Virginia Beach, Virginia, Longview, Texas, Sonora Texas and Austin. She had met Ralph J Finklea (deceased) in Commerce and they were married on June 15, 1947.
Anne and Ralph adopted two infants, Peter Dwight Finklea and April Lea Finklea while living in Sonora, Texas. They moved to Austin in 1969 where Anne & Ralph both worked for AISD. After retiring from AISD, she tutored students at St. Edwards University in the CAMP Program. After a few years, she left St Edwards and became more active at Faith Presbyterian church where she had been a member since the early 80s. She was active in the Women’s Circle group, sang in the choir and volunteered in the Food Pantry. Anne and Ralph also enjoyed traveling to Europe, China and various parts of the US, especially Maine!
Anne is survived by sisters: Betty Wiseman and husband Earl, and Myra Mabry. Children: Peter Finklea and wife Karen and daughter April Finklea Beckerley and husband John. Nieces and nephews: Marsha Cardwell, Larry Finklea, Bill Finklea, Michelle Cooley, David Wiseman, Teresa Henson, Beth Ewell, Mary Ann Lennon and numerous cousins.
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