Obituary: Ashley, Anne (Annie)
Age 85
She grew up a New Yorker and attended Catholic Girl’s Schools.
At Cathedral High School she started the Robert Mitchum International Fan Club and loved showing her dog-eared copy of Photo Play Magazine featuring her picture with Mitch.
She immediately relocated to Los Angeles after graduation.
She met and married a handsome Irishman and her great love, Jack Lynch, a week after her arrival and his 3 sisters became her sisters for life.
They had two children, Jack (John) and Kerry, before she was widowed at 24-years old.
Brother Danny joined the family two months later.
Mom remarried and our family grew with the arrivals of Kim, Jamie, Dawn and Jim.
Mom was a resident of Spokane the past 45 years and enjoyed all of the seasons, except winter.
She was an amazing “friend-maker” and always had a twinkle in her eyes and a quick laugh.
She was a devoted and supportive mother, grandmother and great-grandmother.
She started her career in the insurance business, dabbled in real estate sales and found her happiness in the social services arena.
She served as public relations coordinator for the Youth Help Association and was referred to by the media as Spokane’s “Drug Czar”.
She then worked in out-patient services for the Multiple Sclerosis Society and was known for her kind heart, fun-loving nature and generosity of spirit.
When her children were almost raised, she met and married Ray Ashley and they began a life of travel and adventures.
They cruised the Seven Seas and after his passing, her children began to join her on many of her adventures including trips to her favorites, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, Alaska, Hawaii, Canada, the Caribbean and visiting family in Switzerland.
She always found time every year to spend at Yosemite, her favorite spot in the world.
For the past seven years our mom was blessed with the loving companionship of her fellow Irish adventurer, Larry Hanley.
They traveled, danced, sang and told jokes all over the world.
Mom waited until her grandchildren were old enough to introduce everyone to her passion for skydiving.
It was no surprise that she convinced many of her children and grandchildren to jump with her!
Her goal was to skydive at a later age than former President Bush!
Mom was honored by three Spokane Mayors and a City Council President with special proclamations and in 2005 received the Spirit of Spokane Award for her service as a host extraordinaire during the International Sister Cities Conference.
She was a proud member of the Spokane-Limerick Sister City Society, the VFW Post 51, Friends of Yosemite and Friends of STEP.
Mom was prolific at penning letters to the editor.
She had strong convictions and there were many wrongs she felt compelled to right.
She loved getting the calls from friends agreeing with her many positions.
She instilled in her children at a young age her love for politics and the importance of voting.
They started out at her side doorbelling for Goldwater for President and being a loyal person of strong convictions, she continued to write in his name every four years on her ballot.
Recently, when it was more difficult to travel, mom loved her time with family and friends — she was a great Irish seanachi’ (storyteller) and they were often embellished with her great sense of humor.
She also loved her “road trips” especially to the annual An Ri’ Ra Irish Festival in Butte, Montana to be a groupie for her favorite Irish Band, the Elders.
There is comfort in the sadness of saying goodbye in knowing she is with her beloved husband, Jack, son Jim and brother George.
She is survived by her children, John (Doreen); Kerry (Jack Geraghty); Danny, Kim, Jamie (Pat) and Dawn (Geary), her love, Larry, ten grandchildren and five great grandchildren respectively: Kaitlin (Wes), Robbie (Nozomi), Autumn, Jesse, Meghan (Jake), Jack, Ian, Heather, Kelcee, Annie, Gaven, Addison, Evelyn Anne, Raymond and wee Declan.
Celebration of Annie’s life with the craic she loved will be held on Sunday, April 14 at 4 p.m. at the VFW Post 51, 300 W. Mission Ave. Ar dheis De’ go raibh a anam dilse (May this faithful soul rest at the right hand of God)