Anna Mae Shults

Anna Mae Shults passed away peacefully at home, surrounded by her family Thursday, February 4, 2021, after a short illness.

Born January 20, 1928, to Edward Raymond Kelsey and Florence Mathilda Creer, Anna spent her childhood in Springdale / Declo, Idaho. She attended elementary and junior high in Declo, then transferred to Burley High School. Anna’s classmates voted her as their class cheerleader all three years and she remained a loyal Burley Bobcat to the end.

She attended Brigham Young University for two years then married her high school sweetheart, Warren Pace, on October 1, 1949. They made their first home in Albion, Idaho, where Warren studied at the Albion Normal School and Anna worked as the secretary to the president of the college.

Warren’s music career took them to Oregon where he taught school and led the band and orchestra. Their son, Thomas, was born in 1952 and Warren passed away from cancer on August 23, 1953, leaving Anna a widow with an 18-month old baby.

With the support of her parents, Anna moved back to Burley. On a blind date, skiing at Sun Valley, she met Bobby Shults. They married on November 23, 1956 and moved to Sacramento, California, with 4 year-old Tommy. Anna enjoyed playing bridge and making friends with the neighbors, but didn’t like the required traveling that Bob’s job entailed. They happily moved back to Burley with the offer of a new job in the cattle auction business. Anna supported Bob in his careers in the cattle business and farming, then enjoyed working with him in their later years running The Package House.

Anna loved creating a beautiful home and yard for her family which grew to include two daughters, Diana and Nancy. Although Anna was a woman of many talents, supporting others was what she did best. She never missed the birth of a grandchild, a family member in distress, or helping a neighbor in need. Anna also served the community volunteering with the Cancer Society, blood drives, and Pink Ladies at the hospital. She continued to learn throughout her life and was actively involved in her book club. Anna was devoted to her friends and stayed in contact with them all her life.

Anna joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints at 16, and when Bob was baptized in 1962, they began many years of service in the Pella Ward. On March 3, 1965, Bob and Anna were sealed, along with Tom and Diana in the Idaho Falls Temple. Anna devoted time to family history, gathering photos and stories throughout her life. She served as Relief Society president, Relief Society teacher, on the stake Relief Society board, as a primary teacher, and as a devoted visiting teacher until the end of her life. Bob and Anna served a two-year service mission at the Burley cannery.

When Anna became a widow for the second time in 2011, she moved from her beloved Pella country home to the city of Burley. She took up new hobbies such as oil painting, yoga, and walking with her little dog. She fulfilled her goal to stay in her home until the end of her life.

Anna is survived by her three children: Tom (Gael) Shults, Diana (Mark) Elder, and Nancy (Troy) Winmill; fifteen grandchildren, and fifteen great-grandchildren. She is preceded in death by her spouses, parents, and her five siblings, Helen, Ted, Bill, Bob, and Erma.

Anna was loved and respected by everyone who knew her. She will be greatly missed by her friends and family.

A funeral will be held in Anna’s honor at 11 a.m. Saturday, February 13, at the Morrison-Payne Funeral Home, 321 E. Main St. in Burley, with a viewing beginning at 9:30 a.m.

Due to COVID, the service is restricted to family and close friends. Masks are encouraged.