Tributes

In loving memory of Ann McLaren Our mother, Ann McLaren, went to her final rest on Friday, September 4, 2020. Ann was preceded in death by her first husband Artemus Traywick, Jr., second husband Kenneth Dale McLaren, mother Ida B. Mann, father Dee Mann, brothers Billy Mann, Frank Mann and Raymond Mann and sisters Cleo, Wilma, Jetty Bee, Christine and Tiny, her daughter Linda Beverly Traywick, and by her sons Benjamin Traywick, Jeffrey Paul Traywick, and Scott Zane McLaren. She is survived by her children John Phillip Traywick (Lori), Brenda Kay Taylor, Deborah McLaren (Rob Ramer) and Kenny McLaren. Ann's grandchildren are Jessica Krajenka (Kyle), Haley Traywick, Ellana Taylor, Chandler Taylor (Annemarie), Sarah Traywick, Dylan Anil Ramer, Zachary McLaren, Shawn McLaren, Jordan McLaren and Alexandra McLaren. Ann is also survived by 3 great grandchildren: Evelyn and Aleksander Krajenka and Jeffrey Gannon. Ann was third from the youngest of 9 children. She was born near Titus, Alabama and grew up on her mother’s farm. While married to her first husband Artemus Traywick, Jr., a US Airman, Ann lived in several states and in the UK. Ann loved to travel and she returned to the UK with her second husband Dale McLaren. She and Dale also visited Washington, DC for the inauguration of President Jimmy Carter and visited Paris and Scotland in their travels. Ann became a fan of Broadway and loved attending plays and musicals. Ann lived for many years in Grayville, IL where she became an excellent bowler and developed a flair for canasta, her favorite card game. She was well loved by her circle of Grayville friends and they remember her as someone whose “smile always made things better no matter what.” Whenever they got the chance, she and her Grayville friends visited, even after Ann moved away. Barbara Walker from Grayville says Ann’s favorite phrase was “Girls, smile, we are making beautiful memories.” Her children remember Ann as an amazing homemaker and cook. Ann had a creative flair and in all her homes she was able to take simple elements and make each place fresh and pretty. Ann learned to garden as a child on her mother's farm and her passion was growing roses, gardenias, night blooming jasmine and every kind of vegetable. Ann was a wonderful cook and was famous for her knuckle biscuits, fried chicken, Yorkshire pudding and roast beef, chocolate cake, Key Lime pie, coconut cake and pecan pie...all made “from scratch.” Ann loved music, singing and dancing. She always had music on while she worked or went on her many road trips to see friends. She loved beautiful clothes and appreciated designer fashion and was also an excellent seamstress herself. There was no sewing pattern she could not master. Ann was very outgoing and had friends across the US and the UK from her travels. Ann was a descriptive writer and her sisters used to say that her letters from afar “made you feel like you were there.” One of Ann's favorite pastimes was fishing and she spent many happy hours fishing on the Coosa River with her sisters and all their children. She often said those were some of her happiest moments. Ann was very ill in the last few years of her life and it is a comfort to know that she is now safe and free with her parents, siblings and the daughter and sons who went before her. May God bless and keep her soul.

Tributes

Ms. Ann McLaren

December 6, 1937 - September 4, 2020