In the Garden of her Heart

we were Fortunate to Grow.

Her Words of Hope and Wisdom

Taught us All we Need to Know.

Anna left us at 11:15 pm Monday, September 2, 2013 to be with her Father in the mansion that he promised. In her lifetime of 86 years, she was a devoted daughter to Levi and Ruth Taylor, a beloved sister to her ten brothers and three sisters, the faithful wife of Gerald Featheringill, and a kind friend to the many who were lucky enough to meet her. Most importantly, to us, she was Mom, Grandma, and Nana. Anna and Jerry had five children: three boys, Jack (now deceased), Ron and Les (and wife Becky) and two daughters, Debbie and Susie. They also have eight grandchildren and two great grandchildren.

Mom devoted her life to teaching us how to be good family members, friends and stewards of the earth. She taught us that the greatest riches in life come from the simplest of actions. Through the fine example she set for us, we learned values like: Sharing a Sunday supper together means you'll always have good company to share. Mom was still cooking that Sunday supper with us until the very end. She also taught us how to grow our own food to put on that table so that we would never know what it was like to go hungry. She reminded us often that by giving all we can give to help one another, we will know the true meaning of joy. And, we found (only as we grew much older ourselves) that if we followed her advice to keep our room clean, we would spend much less time wandering around "lost" as we searched the house for our misplaced treasures.

Anna devoted a great deal of her time giving back to her community and to God through her many volunteer activities. Her faith and her family were most important to her in her life. But, one of her true loves was her garden - flowers and vegetables. She had a beautiful green thumb!

The most important lessons Mom taught us were how to summon courage through times of hardship, how to grow in strength during times of heartache, and to keep our family close by loving and laughing through it all. Mom was a modern woman of strong faith. She believed that "To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under heaven". (Ecclesiastes 3:1-8). We take great comfort in these words that she loved and shared with us during the times of hardship and happiness we shared with her over our years together. And we do our best now to follow her advice, and the example she set for us as we face this sorrowful time:

"Cry together in the hard times; we all need to now and then. For this world is full of sorrows - on that you can depend. But when you're finished crying (and you must never cry for very long!), always finish by laughing together and offering a prayer and a song."

Per her wishes her body was cremated. A private burial of her cremated remains was held at Oakland Cemetery, Fort Madison, Iowa. Please join us during visitation in honoring our Mom from 4:00 - 6:00 pm Monday, September 9, 2013 at the Fort Madison Christian Church, 1029 48th Street, Fort Madison, Iowa. A joyous celebration of her life will be held at 6:00 pm Monday, September 9, 2013 at the Fort Madison Christian Church, with Reverend Mike McHugh officiating. A memorial has been established for the Fort Madison Christian Church, Women's Group to be used for their missions. Contributions may be made at the church or Barr Memorial Chapel, Fort Madison. Online condolences to the Featheringill Family may be made from the Barr Memorial Chapel, www.barrmemorialchapel.com.

For on this glad evening she has flown away to her Mansion on God's celestial shore. We Love You Mom! Your Kids!