Ann Elizabeth Stevenson

Ann Elizabeth Calvert Stevenson was born September 12, 1915 in New Trenton, IN. She died at her home in Walnut, CA on March 1, 2012, well into her 96th year. She was preceded in death by her parents, Elbern and Naomi Bonar Calvert, brother Kenneth Calvert, husband Raymond Stevenson, and son John Stevenson. She is survived by her brothers, John Calvert and wife Tammie, and Bernard Calvert; sister-in-law Amy Stevenson and husband Whitey Spears; children DeeAnn Marshall and husband Anthony Grigsby, and Kent Stevenson; grandchildren John Stevenson; Jane, Jonathan, and Andrew Brown, Elizabeth Wahl and husband Matt; great-grandson, Zachary Wahl; and a bevy of nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.Born into a highly talented, jovial, and close-knit family of devout Christians, Ann was true to her roots and dearly loved her extended family. With sparkling eyes, personality, and wit, she was warm, engaging, and sincere, forming many enduring friendships over her lifetime. She never wavered in her witness and devotion to the Lord she loved and served, a commitment shared by Ray, the love of her life.Blessed with keen intelligence and boundless talent, she was accomplished in scientific, domestic, and fine arts. As a youngster, she painted, sang leading roles in school operettas, and mastered both the organ and piano. A Registered Nurse for over 35 years, Ann held demanding positions as Director of Recovery Room, Director of Nurses, and founder of the health care unit at Quaker Gardens retirement facility. She excelled as a porcelain artist who painted delicate details of the natural world and exquisite portraits of both children and adults. Her paintings were widely admired, and she shared her skill with many students. She was a terrific cook and expert seamstress, even tailoring a suit for Ray just to see if she could. (Indeed, she could!) Clever and adventurous, her mechanical bent led her to tackle tricky projects: Faced with paying 'too much' for a professional to service her sewing machine, she dismantled, cleaned, and reassembled it herself. Ann belonged to the PEO sisterhood for well over 50 years, and she and Ray were founding members of Diamond Bar Friends Church. She was a born historian, as her agile mind and acute memory enabled her to recall a multitude of people and events with uncanny precision. She read voraciously, loved family gatherings, adored babies, laughed quickly, and never stopped learning and teaching. She was rock-solid in a crisis and had a gift for comforting, reassuring, and encouraging others. Holding herself to high standards of character and conduct, she fully expected as much from everyone else. Ann faced her illnesses bravely and with little complaint, stubbornly holding onto life with extraordinary strength and resilience. She leaves a space no one can fill, and her memory will be lovingly cherished in the hearts of all those she touched.