Ann Elizabeth RuttER

Our beloved wife, mother and friend moved to a better place on Oct 26 after 3 difficult years with Parkinson's Disease. Ann was born in Denver CO to Leverett A and Lenore Lampson Chapin on May 2, 1933. She graduated from the University of Colorado after a junior year at the University of Madrid and a senior year as a Fulbright Scholar at the University of Munich. She met a textbook salesman in Denver before she left for Germany and returned to marry him on June 22, 1957. Ann is very much loved and survived by her husband John and their children, John E. Rutter III and Daniel L Rutter (Nancy) and grandchildren Lauren, TJ, Bailey and Alex. Ann became a self-taught and highly respected watercolor artist whose Northwest scenes have graced the walls of countless homes over a forty year career. Much of her work was inspired by the beauty she found in the islands to the north, the farms of the Skagit Valley as well as the Cascade Mountains. Her work is held in many corporate and private collections and has been honored by the Seattle Boat Show and the Edmonds Art Festival. Her professional memberships include the Northwest Watercolor Society, Seattle Co-Arts, Women Painters of Washington and the American Society of Marine Artists.

A celebration of Ann's life will be held at the Edmonds Unitarian Universalist Church, 8109 224th St SW in Edmonds on Sunday, December 7 at 3:00pm. Memorial gifts may be made to Edmonds Unitarian Universalist Church or Heifer International, the latter a charity supported by Ann with her granddaughters.

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by The Seattle Times on Nov. 2, 2014.

Memories and Condolences
for Ann Rutter

Sponsored by The Family.

11 Entries

Gil and Rachel H.

October 25, 2024

My 9yo son and I were browsing through a British Heart Society Home Store this evening when he noticed Ann´s artwork and asked if he could purchase it. He said he really appreciated her skill as an artist and that her work is beautiful. He was also very happy that her work was affordable so that he could use his allowance to buy it. I see that it´s nearly ten years to the day that she left this world but wanted you all to know that there´s still a piece of her here in Cambridge, UK and that she´s the first piece of our son´s art collection. Thank you Ann for allowing us to see the beauty of the world as you see it. One day we hope to visit the Puget Sound when we´re stateside again.

Jo Ann Iwane

October 27, 2023

Ann was like a second mother to me when I came to live with the Rutter family in 1968 when I student teaching at Edmonds Elementary School. My own mother was 2,000 miles away in Kona, Hawai´i. I baby sat Tigger and Danny after school while Ann took art classes. Tigger was 10 and Danny was five. John became a beloved father figure in my life. The semester that I lived with them was a wonderful time in my college career. The Rutter´s have come to Kona several times and my husband and I cruised Puget Sound on John´s boat. I remain in touch with my "Edmonds family" and hope to see them next July when I´m in Seattle for a conference.

Jo Ann Iwane

October 27, 2020

Ann and her family took me in when i needed a place to live while i student taught at Edmonds Elementary School in the Spring Semester, 1969, when i was a senior at what was then, Western Washington State College, now University. I was embraced as a member of the family. I babysat their two sons while Ann took art classes and John was a busy lawyer. Ann gifted me with a beautiful drawing of a teacher leading children when i retired in 2002. I still have a close relationship with the Rutter Family. Ann will never be forgotten by this Kona Girl from kealakekua, Hawaii.

Dan Rutter

November 28, 2014

How you can show support

Get email updates whenever changes are made.

Send flowers

Consider sending flowers.

Add photos

Share their life with photo memories.

Plant trees

Honor them by planting trees in their memory.

Donate in Memory

Make a donation in memory of your loved one.

Share this page

Invite other friends and family to visit the page.

Mediterranean cruise, 2007

Dan Rutter

November 28, 2014

Jo Ann Iwane

November 7, 2014

I lived with John and Ann and the boys when I was a student teacher at Edmonds Elementary School in l968/69. Being from Hawaii, I felt a warm sense of ALOHA from them even though I was far away from my island home. The painting that she gave me when I retired of a teacher on a field trip that she gave me has a place of honor in my home. Aloha a hui hou, Ann - until we meet again.

Rachel Maxwell

November 4, 2014

Ann is with me every day through her artwork. Her vision of the Pacific Northwest captured the often elusive majestic serenity of our mountains and water. I so enjoyed working with her at the Art Show at EUUC often hanging 20 of her paintings - talking about which ones where. My deep sympathy to Ann's whole family -- she was a strong spirit!

November 3, 2014

Ann's first art class was with me at the Edmonds School District Adult classes..Those were the days..such a fun and wonderful friend..How I will miss her..my love to you all..Claudette cody

Gary & JoAnne Nelson

November 2, 2014

John and Family: Ann was a loving and wonderful person. We have one of her paintings as a remembrance of her talented life. Her spirit will always be with everyone who knew her. Bless you and the family.

Joyce Edwards

November 2, 2014

Annie will live forever through her paintings, as well as the cherished memories left to all who knew and loved her. She was one of the finest people I have ever known and the world will miss her forever. Sail on, my friend. Love to John and family.

Jeanne

November 2, 2014

I never had the opportunity to meet Ann, but have admired her artwork for many years. At this moment, I am looking at a beautiful watercolor on our wall ~ mountains in the background, and a barn and outbuildings in a gorgeous field of tulips ... so exquisitely painted that it looks like a photograph. It is always placed on a prominent wall wherever we live. We will treasure that memory of her.

Showing 1 - 11 of 11 results