Anna Trader

1926 - 2011

Anna Lee Trader

SALISBURY — Anna Lee Trader, 85, of Salisbury died Sunday, Dec. 18, 2011, at Atria Assisted Living.

The prominent local musician, church organist, pianist, singer, director and actress was born in Whaleyville on Nov. 2, 1926, in the Methodist church parsonage. Her mother was the late Katie Montgomery Stagg Butler and her father was the church pastor, the late Rev. Charles P. Butler. Her mother, Katie, was one of nine children and had to quit school to care for the youngest when her mother died. The Rev. Butler originated from Missouri, where he started out as a farmer/carpenter until becoming a minister in 1892. He moved to the east coast in 1922 because of his first wife's ill health. The Rev. Butler had two other children from his first marriage, Vaughn and Katherine. As a "PK" (preacher's kid) Anna Lee was always helping her father serve his churches on the Eastern Shore, and began playing the piano at age 8. She soon became an accomplished musician and pianist, playing for all his services.

Anna Lee graduated from Seaford High School in 1943 and went on to Western Maryland College (now McDaniel College), where she graduated summa cum laude with Bachelor of Science degrees in elementary education and music education in 1947. She began her teaching career that fall, returning to Seaford High School, where she taught until 1951. Her post-baccalaureate work included studies at Columbia University, University of Maryland College Park, Salisbury University and Peabody Conservatory, and included studies in music, English, drama, piano and organ.

In January 1952 she married her childhood sweetheart, Leon Harrison Trader, a locally well-known musician and big band vocalist. Leaving teaching for marriage, they moved to Fort Campbell, Ky., where Leon was stationed in the Army. While there, Anna Lee worked in the VA hospital, caring for and working with wounded and disabled paratroopers and servicemen from the Korean War. Their son, John Laurence, was born in December 1952. They returned to Salisbury in 1954, and Anna Lee worked at WBOC-TV as an editor. She then returned to teaching for the Wicomico County Board of Education in 1957. She taught at Delmar Elementary and Fruitland Intermediate, and after the tragic death of her son in 1967, she helped pioneer the short-lived local educational TV channel, teaching TV music for three years. To finish her career, she then moved to Mardela Middle/High School, where she taught for another 14 years and retired in 1984. She became well-known in the community for her high school musical productions and mentored several students in musical theater while at that school.

Being an accomplished pianist and organist, music was such a huge part of her life, and she devoted much of her time and talents to Bethesda United Methodist Church, continuing what became a 50-year span as full-time and part-time church organist, youth choir director, chancel choir director and chancel choir member. In addition, she was a member of the Community Players of Salisbury for 50 years, and held virtually every "role" within that organization, including director, music director, producer, pianist, actress, board member and past president.

After the death of her husband and retiring from teaching, she spent a great deal of the next 20 years traveling with her companion, Alfred Huffer (and sometimes her daughter), including numerous trips to locations within the continental U.S., Canada, Mexico, Bermuda and the Bahamas. She also spent several weeks a year in London attending countless concerts and shows, along with visits to other parts of England, Scotland, France, the Netherlands and Austria. Ill health slowed the traveling in 2006, and after several hospital visits and rehabilitation, she became a resident of Atria Assisted Living in June 2007.

She is survived by her daughter, Sherri Hynes of Salisbury; her companion of 25 years, Alfred Huffer Jr., and his children, Lisa (Greg) Harbaugh and their son, Zachary, and Andreas (Becky) Huffer; brother-in-law, John "Jack" Trader, and his daughter, Trish (James) Sams and their children, Tristan and Brandon; niece, Judy Ames and her children, Kit Dennis and Kevin (Sheila) Dennis, and their children, Graham and Kristen; and several cousins.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Leon Harrison Trader, in 1981; a son, John Laurence "Larry" Trader, in 1967; half-brother, Vaughn Butler and wife, Madge; and half-sister, Katherine Butler Fox and husband, Harry.

A funeral service will be held Friday at 11 a.m. at Bethesda United Methodist Church. The Rev. Rob Townsend, the Rev. Dr. Dan Rich, the Rev. Dale Vroman and the Rev. Gregory Harbaugh will officiate. Interment will follow in Springhill Memory Gardens.

Contributions may be made to the Bethesda Music or Organ Fund, 406 N. Division St., Salisbury, Md. 21801; Community Players Building Fund, PO Box 2431, Salisbury, Md. 21803-2431; or the Wicomico County Humane Society, Kitty City, 5130 Citation Drive, Salisbury, Md. 21804. Visit www.boundsfuneralhome.com to send letters of condolence.