Ann Williams Durall, age 85, was freed from Alzheimer’s Disease on Sunday, July 10, 2022, while surrounded by her loving family. She is survived by her husband of 65 years, James Robert Durall and their five children: Leslie Durall Harvison (David Harris) of Lyons, CO; James Robert (Kim) Durall, Jr. of Rome, GA; William Austin (Ana) Durall of Knoxville, TN; Sarah Holly Durall (Rodney Miller) of Jupiter, FL, and Eleanore Hope Durall (Andrew) Rommel of Rocky Mount, NC. She was “Granny Ann” to Tiffany Durall Woltzinek, William Austin Durall, Jr., Jonathan Russell Durall, Ann Williams Durall, Andrew Thomas Harvison, Cory Robert Durall, Alexandra Durall Riddle, Thomas Charles Durall, Isabel Grace Rommel, Marilyn Ann Rommel, and Owen Lalor Rommel. Ann was great Granny Ann to JT and Alivia Riddle and Elliot, Lucy, Caroline, and Kate Durall.
Ann is also survived by her brother, John Owen (Betty) Williams, her beloved nieces, nephews, and cousins. She was preceeded in death by her parents: Chester Wilford Williams and Cora Isabel Staples Williams.
Those who knew Ann during the last nine years of her life knew her to be a loving, gracious and kind person. Those who knew her before the assault of Alzheimer’s Disease began found in Ann a force with which to be reckoned. Ann’s talents as a Master Gardner, photographer, baker, artist, and civic volunteer brought value to her many projects and her love of living things brought light to all she touched. Ann was generous with her time and energies and devoted herself to numerous causes and organizations. She was a former president of Ossoli Circle of Knoxville and the Tennessee State President of the General Federation of Women’s Clubs. She was also named honorary First Lady of Knoxville in 2010. She was a lifelong Presbyterian and enjoyed serving as a deacon and singing in the church choir. If you ever tasted her homemade bread fresh out of the oven, you have experienced heaven on earth.
Ann spent much of her adult life in Tennessee after having been raised in western Kentucky. She met and married “Jim Bob”, her Bremen High School sweetheart and they started a family as they moved to several Kentucky locations with Jim’s highway department job. Ann followed her husband to Palo Alto, California with their three children in tow, where he obtained his master’s degree in Engineering. Jim and Ann would have two more children upon their return to Knoxville and before moving for Jim’s new position to Chattanooga, Tennessee. Upon his retirement from TVA, Jim and Ann returned again to Knoxville where Ann renewed her social contacts and where she led the grass roots efforts to increase state highway safety by restricting lane use by eighteen-wheel transportation. Ann was also instrumental in the fundraising for and ultimate installation of the “Women’s Suffrage” sculpture on Market Square in Knoxville.
When Ann’s health began to decline, she and Jim Bob moved to Jupiter, Florida where they lived together until her death at Trustbridge Hospice of West Palm Beach. During their 5 years in Florida, Ann was lovingly cared for by her daughters and a host of loving caretakers at New Day Adult Day Care Facility and her very special home caretakers: Erika, Kaye, Mercedes and Yuranys. Many thanks also to the kind memory care staff at Atria Park.
Although a Tennessean most of her life, Ann remained deeply attached to her Kentucky roots. Her upbringing in Muhlenberg County was a particular point of pride and no musician worth his or her salts escaped Ann’s request to hear the John Prine classic, “Paradise” about her beloved town.
“When I die let my ashes float down the Green River
Let my soul roll on up to the Rochester dam
I’ll be halfway to Heaven with Paradise waitin’
Just five miles away from wherever I am.”
Ann’s family members will travel to bring Ann’s ashes back to Muhlenberg County and will honor her and receive friends and family from 9 am until 11 am on Saturday, July 23, 2022, at Tucker Funeral Home in Central City Kentucky. A memorial service will begin at 11 am at the funeral home after the visitation.
The family asks that those wishing to honor Ann’s memory will donate to the New Day Adult Day Care Center, 301 Ebbtide Dr H, North Palm Beach, FL 33408 or through the care center’s website at https://faithlutheran-npb.com/2.0/how-you-can-help/. Online condolences may be made at www.tuckerfuneralhomes.com.