Anne Virginia Mehn

1934 - 2025

Anne Virginia Mehn

December 17, 1934 - September 18, 2025

On September 18, after 90 years of love here on earth, Anne Virginia (Yeomans) Mehn began a new journey of love in the Kingdom of our Lord.

Anne was born to Leslie and Clara (Shaw) Yeomans of Stamford, Connecticut on December 17, 1934. She completed her four-year nursing degree at the University of St. Joseph in Hartford at age 20, marking the beginning of 55 years of service in hospitals, caring for patients.

In 1956, Anne married James Mehn of Pittsburgh, PA. In 1961, Jim and Anne moved to Seattle with their two daughters, Kathy and Patty. Anne was an ER nurse at West Seattle General Hospital and a very busy mom. In 1970, the family moved to The Dalles, where Anne became a Recovery Room nurse at The Dalles General Hospital. Actively embracing country life, she took up horseback riding and square dancing.

Anne moved to Sweet Home in 1980 and continued her work as Recovery Room nurse at what is now Samaritan Lebanon Community Hospital. She and Jim divorced, and she married Joseph Graybill in 2004. Anne officially retired from nursing when she was 75.

Continuing her busy life after retirement, Anne was an active member of Sweet Home United Methodist Church, where she did parish nursing, ran fundraising sales, and helped with meal preparation for the Manna program. She also volunteered at the Sweet Home Library.

In her later years, even when mental and physical decline began to take its toll, the joy Anne found in life, in people, and in service never wavered. She was active and happy right up until she left this world. She leaves behind a legacy of love for her family: husband Joseph Graybill; daughters Kathleen Shantz and Patricia Avery; grandsons Nathan, Scott, and Joseph; her nieces and nephews; as well her friends and everyone whose lives she touched. In joyous reunion, she joins her parents Leslie and Clara Yeomans, her brother and sister-in-law Leslie and Nancy Yeomans, and many extended family members and friends who preceded her into God's heavenly kingdom.

With gratitude to God for all the time he gave us with Anne, the family would like to extend special thanks to Pastor Alyssa Baker of Sweet Home United Methodist Church and Fr. Scott Baier of St. Helen Catholic Church for their visits; caregivers Michelle, Shawna, and Theresa for being there for her; the teams at Signature Home Health and Samaritan Palliative Care; the nursing staff at Samaritan Mid-Valley Hospitals, the friends who came to see her, and everyone who prayed for her. Donations in memory of Anne may be made to Sweet Home United Methodist Church, the Sweet Home Library, or Samaritan Foundations.

Memorial service will be held 11 am Saturday, October 25th at United Methodist Church, 845 6th Ave, Sweet Home. Graveside service will be held 11 am, Monday October 27th at Gilliland Cemetery. Sweet Home Funeral Chapel is handling arrangements. www.sweethomefuneral.com.