Heralding a new year, Ann Welch Pearson was born on January 1, 1945, in El Paso, Texas, to the delight of her parents, John and Unita Welch. She passed away on July 24, 2017, in Vancouver, Washington, from gastro-esophageal cancer.
She spent most of her childhood in Whittier, California, and her teenage years in La Cañada, California. She graduated in 1962 from John Muir High School in Pasadena. While attending Brigham Young University, she met her husband, Don Pearson, and they were married in 1964. After she graduated in 1965, she taught kindergarten in Brookline, Massachusetts, while Don attended law school. They then moved to Glendale, California, where they lived for 40 years. Most recently they lived in Salt Lake City, Utah, and Vancouver, Washington.
Ann believed in education and learning. She was an avid student and a cherished teacher. Whether deep in the scriptures or at the heart of a classic, Ann relished the challenge of making new discoveries in any religious or academic subject. She was a frequent discussion leader and always an involved participant in her Great Books group in the Glendale area for over 30 years. She taught gospel doctrine classes, seminary, Institute, dozens of Boy Scout merit badge workshops, Laurel lessons, college preparatory classes, and elementary music classes, to name just a few. Her students were frequently dazzled with new insights.
Ann served in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and her community with unparalleled organizational skill and diligence. She had a true passion for ministering to individuals in need of extra love, and this gave her great peace and strength. She was a consummate cook and hostess and enjoyed having frequent guests for dinner or a party. She was fearless in her belief that with God all things are possible. She enjoyed serving as both Ward and Stake Primary President and Ward Relief Society President. She served a full-time mission with her husband in Toronto, Canada, and was a temple ordinance worker in the Los Angeles, Salt Lake and Portland temples. She served in the PTA, BYU Alumni Association, McGaughey Music Foundation, and LDS Public Affairs.
In 1994, she helped found and has managed the Scholarship Foundation for Educational Excellence, recently renamed the Ann Welch Pearson Scholarship Foundation for Educational Excellence. This is a 501(c)(3) charity that has awarded hundreds of need-based tuition grants with a primary emphasis of assisting students in their first two years of college.
Ann's most treasured roles were wife, mother, and grandmother. She drove children and grandchildren to many lessons and activities, cheered at the track, gym, and recital hall, and proofread many papers. Her six children served full-time missions (Portugal, Spain, Chile, Chile, Poland, and Taiwan), and each received a bachelor's and an advanced degree. Her three sons each received the Eagle Scout award. She herself received the Silver Beaver award. Don and Ann celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary with all of their descendants in 2014 in Santa Barbara, the city where they originally honeymooned.
Ann is survived by her husband, Don, her children and spouses, Eric and Danielle Pearson (Sandy, UT), Laura and Andrew Sheppert (Vancouver, WA), Karen and Scott Whitt (Alpine, UT), Marianne and John Bradshaw (Salem, OR), Tom and Kathryn Pearson (Vancouver, WA), and Steve and Stephanie Pearson (Salt Lake City, UT), 21 grandchildren and one great-granddaughter. In addition, she is survived by her parents, John and Unita Welch, and her siblings and spouses, Jack and Jeannie Welch, Barbara and Lew Cramer, James and Deanne Welch, and Charles Welch.
Funeral services will be held on Saturday, August 5 at 11 a.m. at the Ensign 18th North Ward (where Ann served as Relief Society President in 2010 and 2011), 135 A Street, Salt Lake City, Utah. Viewing will be Friday evening, August 4, from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. and Saturday, August 5 at 9:30 a.m. at the same location. Interment will be at the Clearfield Cemetery following the funeral service. A memorial service will be held in Vancouver, Washington, on Saturday, August 19 at 11 a.m. at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints located at 2223 NW 99th St., Vancouver, WA 98665.
Donations may be made in her memory to the Ann Welch Pearson Scholarship Foundation for Educational Excellence, 10709 NE 30th Avenue, Vancouver, Washington 98686, or to the Ann Welch Pearson BYU Signature Scholarship Fund, LDS Philanthropies, 242 Hinckley Center, Provo, Utah 84602, or to another charity of your choice.
