Anna Lea Pieratt, 84, went to heaven on September 10, 2022. Her unwavering belief and patience allowed her to endure months of health and pain issues. After years of looking forward to being with Jesus, with her family by her side, she was called to her Lord and Savior. We are happy for her and happy for her.
Anna was born on November 12, 1937, in their home in Electric City, Washington, to Gilbert Henry and Velma Viola Battermann. Her father was a crane operator who built the Grand Coulee Dam at the time. At about age 6, she moved with her mother to Soap Lake, Washington, and later to Wenatchee, Washington, to be closer to her family. Anna attended Stevens Elementary School, HB Ellison Middle School and Wenatchee High School, graduating in 1955. During high school, she participated in several activities, her favorite being the band’s song leader and baton. In her senior year of high school, she was chosen as the princess of the royal court at the Apple Blossom Festival. After her reign, she remained active in the Apple Blossom Past Royal Society for the next 50 years.
In 1955, she married Jack Day and began working as a secretary at Alcoa. Later in Western Kraft. They had a son, Dan, in 1961, and a daughter, Denise, in 1962. In 1971, she became executive secretary to the Dean of Students at Wenatchee Valley College.
In 1973, Anna married Jim Pierat. Later that year, after the birth of their son Cole, she opted to be a stay-at-home mom. During those years, she also learned to play golf and became a regular at Rock Island Golf Course. In 1977, the WVC president asked her to consider returning to work as his secretary/administrative assistant. Over the next 15 years, she accepted and continued to hold the position and passed two other presidents. One of Anna’s greatest joys during that time was being a cheerleader consultant for WVC Spirits for as many as 15 years. For a decade, she made multiple uniforms for each cheerleader and drove their RV to the annual cheer camping in Utah or California, with an occasional stop at Disneyland. Ana cherishes the many lifelong friendships she has forged with her cheerleaders, who affectionately call her Ana Banana and Pom Pom Mama.
Anna retired in 1992, and after sending their son to college, she and Jim sold their house and hit the road full-time in their RV — what she calls homeless. Over the next 16 years, they traveled across the United States, Canada and Mexico, visiting family, reconnecting with old friends and classmates from Wenatchee, and developing new friendships. They spent winters on the Gulf Coast, Texas, Pacific Beach, California, and Tucson, Arizona, and summers near their families in Washington and Northern Idaho. One of Anna’s favorite activities during that time was that they would both meet in their RV for a week or a month, with evenings of happy hour, potluck and stories.
In 2008, Anna and Jim hung up their RV keys and settled in Birch Bay, Washington. In 2014, they moved to their current home in Liberty Lake with their children and the rest of their family in Eastern Washington, and started attending Summit Church in Spokane. Anna enjoys helping others and has a gift for giving; she accepted her calling by supporting foreign missionaries, helping family and friends in need, and even slipping $20 to the pastor to send his daughters to ice cream . Earlier this year, after years of dog cravings, she and Jim adopted their beloved Shima, Bella, who brought her a lot of joy and laughter.
Anna’s parents, sister and brother-in-law Dorothy and Elmerheit, brother and sister-in-law George and Phyllis Bateman, and grandson Nathaniel Pierat all died.
Her husband, Jim, survives with Bella and their mixed family: Keri Day in Idaho, Daryle Day in Ellensburg, Carolo, Che Cole (Tia) Pieratt of Ni, Brad (Kim) Pieratt of Wenatchee and Andre (Janice) Pieratt of East Wenatchee; grandson and great-grandson Kyle (Kaytlyn) Day, Julia Day, Jessica (Elijah) Fernandez & Domingo and Adrian, Hannah Pieratt, Connor Pieratt, Josh Pieratt, Amanda (Aaron) Miller & Rainn, Zach (Diana) Pieratt & Emma and Elsie and Larkin (Samantha) Thomson; Kay Half-sister of West Picka and Julie King; and many beloved nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.
In lieu of flowers, Anna prefers to donate to Summit Church (Missionaries), 1801 E 29th Avenue, Spokane, WA 99203, or United Gospel Missions.
Posted by Spokesman-Review in September. February 25, 2022.