Ann May Vannier MD, passed away peacefully April 26, 2024, after a long illness. She was 76 years old.
Dr. Ann, as she was affectionally called, was born in Farmville, Virginia, and preceded in death by her parents, O. Worth May and Catherine Sherman May. She is survived by her loving sisters, Martha Maxwell, Catherine Marshall, and Margaret May, along with her children and grandchildren, niece and nephews, and many beloved cousins and friends.
Dr. Ann was an accomplished microbiologist. She earned her medical degree and trained at Washington University in St. Louis, before finding employment at the University of Arkansas in Little Rock. The last 18 years of her career were spent at Kaiser Permanente, where Dr. Ann retired as the Director of the Southern California Regional Labs.
A bright and diligent student, Dr. Ann graduated Phi Beta Kappa from the University of Kentucky. Continuing at UK for medical school, Ann was one of only a handful of women in her class. Her then husband’s career caused her to withdraw before degree.
Ann would not be dissuaded. She returned to medical school, this time at Washington University, where she was required to redo her 3rd year, which was well known at the time as the most grueling of years. Her brilliant mind and tenacity were familiar characteristics and served her well through the very end of her life.
Ann Vannier loved intensely, gave generously, and laughed joyously. Her favorite place on Earth was the cabin at Woodhaven near the Kanuga Conference Center in North Carolina, where she spent holidays too numerous to count with family and friends.
The family wishes to thank the staff at Aberdeen Heights for their kindness and patience with Dr Ann. Enormous gratitude is also extended to the staff at Evelyn’s House for the gentle care provided to Dr. Ann and her loved ones in her final days. Special blessings also go to the many private caregivers who tried their very hardest to make her time here as peaceful as possible.
I did not have the pleasure of knowing Dr. Ann May Vannier but I benefited from the kindness and generosity of her daughter, Catherine. I now know where she gained those qualities.
What a wonderful gift to witness such a well lived life! Rest in peace!
My condolences to the family of Ann May Vannier.
Good Bye- our dear cousin Ann. I will always think of you as that bubbly, laughing, fun loving playmate when we were children making mud pies and adventuring in the woods around Woodhaven. And then many years later, still the same warm generous person who gave us hospitality when we were passing through in 2007.
I join with your family and mine, and friends in memory and thankfulness for your life well lived.
Rest well.
I had the good fortune to meet Dr. Ann when I ran a computer/statistics lab at Washington University School of Medicine. She would come in to consult on the use of computing in statistical research methods. I was sorry to learn of her passing recently.