Anna Rae Esworthy Straight, a resident of Mount Dora since 1953, started her life on
May 16, 1919, in Charlestown, Ohio, where she grew up with brother Robert and sister
Helen. A graduate of Kent State University and Stetson University, she taught
elementary school--in public schools and her own private kindergarten--for 45 years.
She married the love of her life, the late Charles Edward Straight in 1941, and gave
birth to their only child, Sue Ellen, in 1948. Sue's marriage to Bill Kennedy gave Anna
Rae (Gram) two granddaughters, Christi, who married David Straub, and Hilary, who
married Tucker Harman. Christi and Dave grew the family with Emma and Cade, while
Hilary and Tucker grew it further with Sari, Kennedy, and Blayre. Also of vital
importance to her were the nieces, nephews and cousins of her Esworthy and Straight
extended families. And like family were her many close and special friends.
Anna Rae's legacy is more than the success stories of the now grown-up school
children she taught year after year. It's more than her 63 years of contributions to
Mount Dora's First United Methodist Church--teaching Sunday school, playing piano for
children, visiting shut-ins, participating in Hannah circle. It's more than her membership
in BPW, her volunteering for Waterman Memorial Hospital and the Mount Dora
Chamber of Commerce, entertaining friends, playing her organ. Anna Rae's real legacy
is the love she put into everything! She did nothing unless it was for the aid and
assistance of others--especially the family for whom she would have given her very life.
Even in her later years, bound by physical limitations, Anna Rae shared her kindness,
her devotion, her love. She did so because of the love and devotion she had for God! It
will be a different world without her, but a richer one with the memories she left!
Memorial service will be at 10:00 AM, Thursday, July 21, 2016, First United Methodist
Church, Mount Dora. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the church's
memorial