Anna Page

Celebrating her upcoming 96th birthday, after lunch and giggles with her girlfriends, Anna Stephens Page retired a little early.

After a piano serenade by her 9 year old great grandson, she peacefully passed to her eternal rest on November 2, 2021.

She was born in Eldon, Missouri, November 3, 1925, to Howard and Esther Sties Stephens.

Anna was preceded in death by her husband of 68 years, Mancel Page, sister, Alpha Barnhouse, brother in law, August Barnhouse, and daughter in law, Ronna Capra.

She is survived by her sister, Esther Stephens, children, Frances Page of Basalt, Peggy Page (David Dunder), and Patrick Page, of Grand Junction.

Her surviving grandchildren are Jefferson Baker, Wendy Kelly, and Amy Joy (Jimmy) all of Grand Junction, and great-grandchildren: Alyssa Wilson, Amanda Mota, Ashton Baker, Alex Baker, Kyle C Kelly, Liam Kelly, Wyatt Joy, and Jameson Joy, and 3 great-great-grandchildren.

Blessed by a loving marriage and family, she was deeply connected to this community, and its families.

Her Christian commitment was manifest through faith, generosity, and celebrating her gifts of music and education.

During high school, she was a cheerleader, played the comedic parts in plays, and the French horn in band and orchestra, and lettered in tennis.

She was awarded the Lions Club Citizen Award at her high school graduation in 1943.

During World War II, she worked for North American Aviation, Kansas City as an aeronautical engineer’s technician.

She was a member of the Rosie the Riveter Association.

After the war, while attending Central Missouri State College, she met Mancel.

They married in 1946 and moved to Clovis, New Mexico, to Grand Junction in 1950, and Farmington, New Mexico in 1959, returning to Grand Junction in 1964.

While persistently pursuing a higher education, she was able to integrate child rearing, with enriching experiences for her children, as she shared her learning.

She attended summer classes at Western State College, in Gunnison, and Northern Arizona University, in Flagstaff, ultimately earning a Master’s Degree in Education.

She was an elementary teacher at Whitman and Riverside schools in Grand Junction, and Northeast Elementary in Farmington.

She was Grand Junction’s first Head Start teacher.

Frugally saving her teacher’s salary allowed Anna and Mancel to purchase A.C. Parson’s Jewelry in 1964, renamed Page Parson’s.

Retooling her education, Anna became the first woman Registered Jeweler of the American Gem Society.

As a member of the AGS, Anna and Mancel traveled all over the world to purchase beautiful gemstones, meeting lifelong friends along the way.

Anna and Mancel worked side by side until her retirement in 2002.

As president of the Women’s Division of the Grand Junction Chamber of Commerce, she proudly helped create the annual Spring Clean-up.

At the encouragement of Dr. Patrick Moran, she established the local National Kidney Foundation Chapter, funding the first dialysis machine at St. Mary’s Hospital.

The Grand Junction Lion’s club honored her as Lioness of the year in 1974.

She also contributed to Altrusa, Eastern Star, PEO, Daughters of the American Revolution, Grand Junction Symphony Chorus and the Wednesday Music Club.

A gifted mezzo-soprano, she was active in church choirs for fifty years and most enjoyed the transcendence of Handel’s Messiah, her own personal affirmation of faith.

After retiring from Page-Parsons Jewelers, she enjoyed attending church, reading, swimming, and walking as a “snowbird” in Green Valley, Arizona.

She also loved spending time with her family and friends in Grand Junction; most fun of all was time spent with her great-grandchildren who called her GG and whom she loved with all her heart.

She sends a special thanks for her wonderful care provided by her daughter Peggy, son-in-law David, caregiver Brooke, and her doctors, Richard Garmany, and Dan Sullivan.

A memorial service is anticipated, once the COVID threat recedes and public safety returns for all.

Memorial contributions may be made to the First Presbyterian Church of Grand Junction or Western Slope Food Bank of the Rockies.