Ann Veysey Childress

1941 - 2024

Ann Veysey Childress, formerly of Brawley, CA, passed away at her home in Lake Havasu, AZ, on June 22, 2024. She is survived by her three children, Leigh Ann Arizmendi, Andrew A. Kosky, and Laurel Lynn Kosky; her siblings, John Veysey, Thomas Veysey and Mark Veysey; three grandchildren Alesia Kosky, Dane Kosky and Phoebe Hays and numerous nieces and nephews. Her husband, Robert Childress, passed away on October 2, 2024.

Ann was born in Pasadena on September 11, 1941 as the eldest child of Janet Donaldson Veysey and Victor V. Veysey. They lived in Pasadena and Sierra Madre while Victor was teaching at Cal Tech. When Ann was seven years old, the family moved to the Imperial Valley when Victor took over operations at the family ranch north of Brawley. She attended elementary, Junior and Senior High Schools in Brawley. She graduated from Brawley Union High School with the class of 1960 and remained close to her school mates for the rest of her life. Ann attended college at UC Riverside, Trinity University (San Antonio, Texas) and Fuller Theological Seminary (Pasadena, California).

Ann married Alfred N. Kosky in 1962, and together they had three children, Leigh Ann, Andrew and Laurel while living in La Canada, California. Ann and Alfred divorced in 1976, and Ann became an administrative assistant at Fuller Theological Seminary. There she met Douglas Campbell, who was studying at the seminary. They married several years later, and Ann began 25 years of ministry as a pastor's wife and ministry leader at churches in Montana, Ohio and California. During this time, Ann was engaged in many activities and held multiple positions in the communities in which she lived, including as Director of the Fine Arts Council and Manager of the Fort Peck Summer Theatre (Montana), Director of Hospice Bereavement and Family Services (Sun City), Children's Ministries Director at Bible Fellowship Church (Hemet, CA), Presenter and Learning Specialist for GROUP publishing.

Ann enjoyed time with family and friends at Lake Arrowhead throughout her life. She had fond memories of racing sailboats with her father as a member of the Lake Arrowhead Yacht Club in the 1950's. In 2016, she rejoined the yacht club and reconnected with friends from 60 years past while forging new friendships. She was forever adventurous and strong-willed - even sailing with her grandson in a few races against the advice of just about everyone.

After retirement, she married Robert Childress, a friend from her school days in Brawley. Together they enjoyed class reunions and time with friends and family. Ann kept a busy schedule, with multiple projects in flight at any given time. She loved to sing and travelled with a large stack of CDs - often practicing songs she would perform with the Bible Fellowship Church choir (Hemet). She studied and became a California Master Gardener and enjoyed hosting and participating in educational programs in the local community. Ann missioned to China and Mongolia in 2002 and would remark that this experience was the most eye-opening and "stretchy" experience of her lifetime. She continued making clothing for herself and her grandchildren with amazing skills learned from her grandmother, Louise Donaldson, including the dress in which she will be buried. She remained active at Christ's Chapel in Lake Havasu - teaching the women's Bible Study until earlier this year. Ann was an energetic and dynamic lady until her body could no longer sustain the chords that she strummed all of her life.

Rest in peace and be with God, Ann.

A graveside service will be held for her and Robert on Saturday October 19 at Riverview Cemetery in Brawley at 10:30 AM.