ANNA LOVING

"Some people come into our lives and quickly go and some leave footprints on our hearts forever."

It is when these footprints are embedded into our hearts that lifelong companions are found, and often the driving force behind all that we do is created. That's the kind of person Anna Loving was.

Anna Fay was born on May 21, 1985 in Sedro-Woolley, Washington to Holly and Tim Loving. From the very beginning she was a ball of energy. At two minutes old Anna turned her head to the sound of her father's voice. It was the voice she had heard for nine months as her daddy read to her, played music for her and talked to her. She was a "go" from that day on because she had to keep up with her cousins Tyler and Nate. Being the first girl in a family full of boys she was clearly the light of everyone's life-the center of everyone's universe. She was the queen bee.

Anna walked at 7 months old. She started sports early and never lost the competitive edge. Anna enjoyed T Ball, Little League, Martial Arts, Jr. Golf, Track & Field and Basketball, but her true passion was Soccer. From the first time she walked onto the pitch, she loved everything about the game. She started off on a co-ed team which only fed her competitive nature. They didn't have "girl-only" teams back then. As the years passed her skill and passion for the game only grew. As she moved up the ladder, around her third year of playing, an opportunity arose for her dad to coach her team. Those father/daughter years brought out the true nature of Anna. She became not only a star player but also the comedic relief of the team forming a bond with everyone she played with along the way. She even went as far as to paint braces on her teeth and dye her hair red to make a new player feel welcome. Throughout the years Anna won numerous awards, but the most common achievement was "most inspirational". Upon entering high school she immediately became an impact player, lettering all four years. From scoring off a header within six minutes of her first varsity game to becoming an all-NW player her senior year, Anna's love for the sport only grew. She won scholarships for Skagit Valley College and was selected for international trips with FC Skagit Euro that gave her the opportunity to play in England, France and Spain, accomplishing a lifelong dream. During those trips her coaches recognized a special talent, switching her from a forward position which she had primarily played to a defensive stopper position. That's when she found her true calling, the perfect combination of defense with a scoring position, giving her the green light to control the plays. After returning from her international excursions and coaching youth league for a few years, Anna decided to return to her southern roots and go to college in Kentucky. Her Great-Grandmother Juanita gave her this opportunity by allowing Anna to live with her in Franklin Kentucky in order to establish residency. It was here that Anna discovered her joy of cooking. As a past time throughout her years, using her dad as a guinea pig, she was able to perfect her dishes by adding a southern flare. Her favorites were her homemade noodles and fried chicken.

At Western Kentucky University a chance meeting with a classmate led Anna to join her college rugby team. She loved the tackle more than anything. This opportunity formed a new community of friendship for Anna during her years at WKU that lasted a lifetime.

As passionate as Anna was about sports, she was equally passionate about helping others. After being a student at Best SELF, a summer outreach program for K-5 graders, she came back to the program as a volunteer the summer before entering sixth grade. She absolutely loved mentoring the children and working alongside high school and college aides. She continued with this program as a staff member every summer lasting through high school. Anna took great pride in seeing her "kids" in town and watching them grow throughout the years.

Although Anna was not a fan of ice cream she did love to sing, and her job at Cold Stone offered just that. She managed both the Burlington and Bowling Green Kentucky locations.

Anna's care and compassion for others and her love of family soon had her relocating to Gulf Breeze Florida to care for her maternal grandmother. She spent fourteen months caring for her grandmother before succumbing to a brief but valiant battle with liver failure. Anna Loving passed away at Baptist Hospital in Pensacola Florida on Saturday, August 23, 2014 with her father by her side.

Anna is survived by her Father: Tim (Tracy Compton) Loving; Grandmother; Regina Hancken, Grandfather; Pappa John (Shar), Hancken, Uncles: Chris Loving, PJ (Kari) Loving, Matt Loving; Aunt: Helen (Wayne Ogle) Hancken, Cousins; Tyler Loving, Nate (Tatiana) Loving, Melissa (Ryan) Dahl, Lindsey Loving; Great Aunt: Georgia (Allen) Mikul, Southern Cousins: Dr. Larry Mikul, Paul Mikul, Amy Penos and families; Very Special Aunts: Kerry McNett, Keri Loving; Most Special sisters: Sheila Stafford, Lyndsie Compton and Hayley Compton whom she loved with all her heart.

She is also survived by her newest little nugget miracle Jacob Dahl who she met on her last trip home for her birthday. Anna has countless friends and former teammates across the country that knew and loved her!

She was preceded in death by her mother: Holly Ella Stanford; grandparents: Jeanne and Duane Loving; great-grandparents: Dorothy and DeWayne Umbarger, Juanita and Palo Stanford, May and Sanford Hancken; along with countless other relatives she met upon entering Heaven.

In lieu of flowers donations may be made to: BEEAF, P.O. Box 350, Burlington, WA 98233. Please mark them "In memory of Anna Loving". A scholarship in Anna's name will be given to a BEHS student through the Burlington-Edison Education & Alumni Foundation. Anna would love that she is paying it forward.

A FUN celebration of Anna's life will be held on Sunday, Sept. 7 from 3-6 at Skagit Golf and Country Club in Burlington, Washington. Dress is casual, wear whatever you are comfortable in. Shorts and flip-flops are totally Anna and acceptable.

Please share your thoughts of Anna and sign the online guest register at www.hawthornefh.com.