Anna Stephens Page
November 3, 1925 – November 2, 2021
While celebrating her upcoming 96th birthday, Anna Stephens Page retired a little earlier after lunch and giggling with her friends. After a piano serenade by her nine-year-old great-grandson, she went peacefully into her eternal rest on November 2, 2021.
She was born on November 3, 1925 in Eldon, Missouri, to Howard and Esther Sties Stephens.
Anna had preceded her 68-year-old husband Mancel Page in death; 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, from Basalt; Peggy Page (David Dunder) and Patrick Page of Grand Junction. Her surviving grandchildren are Jefferson Baker, Wendy Kelly, and Amy Joy (Jimmy), all from Grand Junction, and great-grandchildren, Alyssa Wilson, Amanda Mota, Ashton Baker, Alex Baker, Kyle C Kelly, Liam Kelly, Wyatt Joy and Jameson Joy and three Great-great-grandchildren.
Blessed by a loving marriage and family, she was deeply connected to this community and their families.
Her Christian commitment was manifested through faith, generosity, and the celebration of her musical and educational gifts.
During high school she was a cheerleader, played the comedic roles in plays and the French horn in band and orchestra, and played in tennis.
Upon graduating from high school in 1943, she received the Lions Club Citizen Award.
During World War II, she worked for North American Aviation, Kansas City, as an aerospace engineer technician.
She was a member of the Rosie the Riveter Association.
After the war, she met Mancel while attending Central Missouri State College. They married in 1946 and moved to Clovis, New Mexico, Grand Junction in 1950 and Farmington, New Mexico in 1959, and returned to Grand Junction in 1964.
While persistently pursuing a college education, she was able to incorporate parenting, with enriching experiences for her children while sharing her learning.
She attended summer courses at Western State College in Gunnison and Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff, and eventually earned a master’s degree in education.
She was an elementary school teacher at Whitman and Riverside Schools in Grand Junction and Northeast Elementary in Farmington. She was Grand Junction’s first Head Start instructor.
Saving their teacher’s salary frugally enabled Anna and Mancel to purchase AC Parson’s Jewelry in 1964, renamed Page Parson’s. Anna upgraded her training and became the American Gem Society’s first registered jeweler. As members of the AGS, Anna and Mancel traveled around the world buying beautiful gemstones and met lifelong friends along the way.
The couple worked side by side until they retired in 2002.
As President of the Women’s Division of the Grand Junction Chamber of Commerce, she proudly helped shape the annual spring cleaning.
At the suggestion of Dr. Patrick Moran founded the local National Kidney Foundation Chapter and funded the first dialysis machine at St. Mary’s Hospital.
The Lions Club Grand Junction named her 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.
As a gifted mezzo-soprano, she was active in church choirs for 50 years and enjoyed most of the transcendence of Handel’s Messiah, her personal creed.
After retiring from Page-Parsons Jewelers, she enjoyed going to church, reading, swimming, and walking as a “snow bird” in Green Valley, Arizona.
She also loved spending time with her family and friends in Grand Junction; The most fun was spending time with her great-grandchildren, whom she called GG and whom she loved with all her heart.
She thanks in particular for the wonderful care she has given by her daughter Peggy, her son-in-law David, her nurse Brooke and her doctors Richard Garmany and Dan Sullivan.
A memorial service is expected once the COVID threat subsides and public safety is restored for all.
Commemorative donations can be made to the First Presbyterian Church of Grand Junction or the Western Slope Food Bank of the Rockies.
Published by The Daily Sentinel November 14-21, 2021.
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