Person:Annie Rencher (1)

The gracious, talented and witty lady that I am going to pay tribute to is Anne Rencher Williams. She has long been a honorary member of our R.L.R. Club and we that have known her for years know what a choice person she is. But for our newer members I would like to tell a little about the life and accomplishments of Auntie Anne, as she is affectionately called by all her friends, neighbors and relatives. She was born to Mary Lorena Snow, better remembered as Aunt Rene and to James (Jim) Rencher. The family had an ideal home life, with never a harsh word spoken, no contention or quarreling. There were five children: Rose, Maude, Belle, Mace, and Anne. Her growing up summers were anyone’s dream come true, for the Rencher Ranch in Grass Valley was a portion of paradise and as popular as the sought after [ ] Valley homes are today. Everyone came from miles around to partake of and enjoy the Rencher hospitality. Anne’s mother was a marvelous cook, and the big table was always loaded with food. The house was at the foot of a mountain in green meadows, and wild flowers grew in profusion. Even as a child, Anne loved flowers and all her life her yard has been one of the loveliest in St. George. For years people came from all over Southern Utah to [beg? ask?] flowers for weddings, teas, receptions and parties and they were never refused. If Anne had money for all the floral arrangements she had fixed for every one, she’d be a lot richer than she is now. The Rencher family migrated to St. George for the winter months and many is the time Anne has ridden to town atop a wagon-load of furniture or potatoes or most any kind of produce. Anne’s father owned many fine horses, so naturally she became an accomplished horse woman. The bridle she used was one made by the Dalton Gang while they were serving a prison term. When Anne was twenty years old, she married Andrew B. Price, better known as Biz Price. He was a talented artist on the violin, and many were the feet that his music set to dancing. It was upon her marriage that Anne’s life began, in the sense that is now so much a part of her and she of it. If you have ever visited her home and felt very inefficient as you looked around her beautifully kept rooms, graced with fresh flowers, and never a thing out of place, don’t go home in total complete despair, for if Anne runs out of time and can’t get the dishes done, she still won’t leave them in the sink. If you had looked you would probably find them in a dishpan in the oven. Anne’s sense of humor is one of her strongest qualities. Anne and Biz had three sons born to them two years apart. But it wasn’t long before she was dealt a heavy portion of the troubles that beset people in this life’s span, and she was left with the responsibility of being bread winner for her family as well as mother. This challenge she met with the stern philosophy that it doesn’t matter so much what happens to you, as it does how you take it. She faced each day then as know with her prayer, "Dear Lord, as I approach another day, make me equal, come what may." She cleaned in Whitehead’s store, then in the Lund store at Enterprise for [ ] years. Next at Dean Clark’s Drug Store. Her business career next took her to the Power and Light Company, where she worked for fourteen years. Because of Anne’s pleasant way with people and her vivacious charm, the most irate and upset clients were referred to her. Anne’s mother lived with her for many years and Anne was as devoted a daughter as she was a mother. Her son Andy said that the most important advice his mother gave him was, "Get busy", which isn’t surprising when we know how energetic Anne always has been. When Andy went into the service of World War II, Anne married Colonel Roy Williams. They worked hard in hand in civic affairs, and whatever fields of endeavor he got into, she was right behind him. Their home and gardens was the setting for all kinds of parties and entertainments. Anne is an exceptional hostess and a marvelous cook as well as the life of any party. Through the Colonel’s influence, Anne got into political work. Joe Atkin, Republican County Chairman at one time said, "Anne is such a good organizer, if Brigham Young had had her help him, he’d probably still be going strong." Anne and the Colonel had ten wonderful years together and when he died, she had to remind herself that the Lord will never give you more burden than your shoulders can carry. She went to the state legislature for four years to work with Senator Orval Hafen. Her middle name is Public Service. She has been chairman of the March of Dimes, President of the American Legion Auxiliary twice. She served as a member of the First St. George Planning Board, first president of the Dixie Beautification Club. She was the first president of the Business and Professional Women of St. George, serving in this office for two years. She was president of the M.I.A. and also a counselor. Through all the years of the was, Anne kept a record of each serviceman in the ward, the date he went in, serial number and his mailing address. She was secretary of the Relief Society for eight years. Barbara and Andy lived with Anne when Paul and Patricia were small. They always looked forward eagerly to their story time with Grandma, for Anne [ ] them every night. The children are both married now and have lovely families of their own. Her immediate family may be small in number, but Anne’s home has always been a haven to anyone who was ill, troubled, or in any way in need of her hospitality and comfort—and the people who have called her home their home all through the years couldn’t even be counted. Trying to decide which of Anne’s qualities are most outstanding is difficult. Perhaps it is her graciousness; no, it is compassion for others, or perhaps her ability to laugh at herself and see the humor in a tense situation, the [knack] of keeping cool when everyone else has come unsoldered. A talented writer, Anne has also been a generous one and always willing and happy to write poems or help with programs whenever anyone asked her. I’d like to close now with some of her most beautiful words—her original and Personal Creed for Living:

Let me live my life from year to year With forward face and unreluctant soul, Not hurrying to, nor scurrying from the goal, Nor holding back in fear For what the future veils, But with a whole and happy heart That pays its toll to youth and age And travels on with cheer.

(Sent by Michael Litchfield on 14 Mar 2002)