Anna Marie Essex

On May 23, 2025, Anna Marie Staggs Essex, 90, of Carmel, Indiana, moved into her “house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens” (2 Corinthians 5:1) from a peaceful sleep while in senior living care at Wellbrooke of Carmel. 

Anna was born January 28, 1935, the daughter of Raymond F. Staggs and Sarah E. Cummins Staggs who resided in the Fountain Square section of Indianapolis, Indiana. Anna graduated from Arsenal Technical Tech High School, Indianapolis, Indiana, in 1952. Anna married John E. Essex on December 21, 1951, in Indianapolis. 

Anna had a real talent for ceramics and in the late 1960s opened her own slip cast ceramics business Ceramics By Anna. In her business Anna taught classes, sold greenware, glazes, brushes and other items used by her students to create ceramics. Additionally, Anna created her own ceramic items which she often gifted to friends and family and was contracted to provide finished ceramic items for various gift stores around Indiana, each one signed, “Ceramics by Anna.” Throughout her life Anna had many interests and hobbies ranging from knitting, needlework and crocheting, playing Bunco, and line dancing. 

Before moving from Indy’s northeast side Anna was an active participant in the Leo F. Welch Post 495 American Legion. She was a Cub Scout den mother, a member of Smyrna Shrine Guild of Murat Shriners, a life member of the International Association of Turtles, and a member of Ambassidair Travel Indianapolis, Anna even tried to learn to play the bagpipes with the Indianapolis “500” Gordon Pipers. 

Anna was a long-time member of Calvary Baptist Church on the east side of Indianapolis where she enjoyed attending worship services with her family as far back as when the church was located in the Indianapolis neighborhood of Brightwood. 

Remaining to cherish Anna’s memory is her sister Ruth Brown Crockett of Ocala, Florida, sons David A. Essex, John E. Essex II and wife Pam Whittenbarger Essex, Tom J. Essex and wife Liz Connor Essex. Additionally Anna will be missed by many grandchildren, great grandchildren, nieces and nephews. Preceding Anna in death are her father Raymond F. Staggs, mother Sarah E. Cummins Staggs, sister Sylvia Brown Watkins (Jim), former spouse Colonel John E. Essex, and son Matthew T. Essex.