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Ann Dunham Obituary

Born on May 21, 1930, in Los Angeles, California, Edith Ann Jameson was the youngest child of Miriam Wagner Jameson and Joy Gilbert Jameson of Corona, California. Ann passed away peacefully on October 11, 2023, in her beloved cabin overlooking Strawberry Creek in Idyllwild, California. She was predeceased by her parents as well as by her five siblings, Jim, Walt, Margaret, Charles, David, and all of their spouses.Ann grew up happily riding horses and constructing grand dreams in Corona and Idyllwild. She graduated from Corona High School in 1947 and from Stanford University in 1951 with a B.A. in education. On September 6, 1952, she married R. David Dunham, whom she had met at Stanford. Ann is survived by Dave, her husband of seventy-one years, their four children, Miriam, Elaine (with her husband Bill), Robert (with his wife Sheryl), and Catherine (with her husband David), twelve grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren. Her surviving nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews are too numerous to list here.With the exception of two years in San Juan Capistrano in the late 1960s, Ann and Dave raised their children in Pasadena, California, where Ann was for years president of the Convalescent Aid Society, volunteered in the CAS thrift shop, served on the board of the Pasadena Day Nursery, and enthusiastically worked as a docent in the gardens of the Huntington Library. With her husband and children she attended American Baptist Churches in Pasadena, just as she had as a child in Corona. For decades she belonged to a book review club which included many Stanford friends. In her seventies and early eighties, while living in Hemet and Idyllwild, she taught writing classes to continuing education students at Mt. San Jacinto Community College. When she began to lose her ability to walk in 2013, she reluctantly gave up teaching.Ann loved singing, reading, writing, gardening, traveling, creating and viewing art, chatting, and adventurous eating. She created exceptional works of crewel stitchery, sometimes incorporating twigs and other natural materials. Elves and fairies danced in her gardens. She filled dozens of journals with her writing during the last several decades of her life. She was a faithful, strong-willed and fiercely loving woman who was well loved by many.

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

Published by The Press-Enterprise on Oct. 22, 2023.

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Peggy Mellor Martin

October 22, 2023

Ann, her life and relationships were celebrated by the gathering of family and friends, graced by her favorite blue in flowers, table cloths, vases, shirts and dresses. Songs were sung, poems and tributes read. My dear Aunt Ann will be missed by all who loved her. She is truly at peace.

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