Ann Marie Waltermire, 42, of Ceres died Saturday, July 25 at home after a two-year battle with cancer surrounded by her family and friends.

She was born in Oakdale to John Austin and Mary Lou Graves. She married Joe Waltermire in April 1987 and had their son in December that year. She lived most of her life in Oakdale until her move with her family to Ceres in 2005.

She loved being a wife and mother. Her days were happily full, taking care of her family and enjoying her many hobbies. She loved her pets — five dogs Daisy, Bailey, Peanut, KC, and Stanley and a potbelly pig, Willie. She enjoyed country music, gardening, making crafts, baking for family and friends, and decorating their home for the holidays.

She felt her greatest accomplishment was being wife to her husband and mother to their son. She had daily battles with type 1 diabetes, and later was afflicted with liver disease, and then in the last two years with cancer. Through it all, her brown eyes never lost their twinkle or lost sight of what they were fighting for.

She is survived by her husband of 22 years, Joe Waltermire of Ceres; son, Andrew Waltermire of Ceres; father, John Austin of Modesto; sister, Shannon Graves of Fairfield; sister, Ashley Wegner of Clarksville, TN; many aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, and cousins.

She was preceded in death by her mother, Mary Lou Graves; and sister, Meredy Austin.

A memorial service will be held at 10 a.m. on Saturday, Aug. 8 at Jim and Patricia Potthoff’s home, 213 Lambuth Ave., Oakdale.

In lieu of flowers, remembrances may be made to the American Diabetes Association or American Cancer Society.

The Oakdale (Calif.) Leader

Aug. 5, 2009