Obituary of Anne Wynn Darsey

     It is with great sadness that the children of Anne Wynn Darsey announce her passing on May 30, 2023. Her children were by her side as she passed into eternity. Our sweet mother was born on May 7, 1931, at home in Bradenton to Elizabeth and Henry Sharp, who predeceased her. She always felt that her parents gave her a magical childhood. Growing up with sister, Betty Jane, and brother, Henry Jr., they had the freedom to ride bikes to Ballard Elementary School and Walker Junior High and visit friends without a care or worry.

She developed a love of music at a young age, taking piano lessons from Mrs. Charles Field, beginning at age six and continuing until graduating from Manatee High School. She learned to play the clarinet in Junior High, and joined the marching and concert band with “Pop” Grant.

After graduation in 1949 from Manatee High School, she attended Florida State University, where she became a member of Alpha Gamma Delta Sorority. While at FSU she met Bob Darsey, her future husband, and they were married on October 20, 1951. Their marriage lasted almost 66 years before his passing on October 7, 2017. After spending one year in Tampa, they lived the rest of their lives in Bradenton, where Bob worked for Florida Power and Light Company. The couple raised their family; son David Darsey (Michelle) of Orlando and daughters Karen Boyes of Canton, GA and Wynn Maclaren of Tampa, who survive her. Survivors also include sister Betty Jane Elliot and brother Henry Sharp Jr., grandchildren Stephen Boyes (wife Holly), Emily Vorhies (husband Eric), Alyssa DeHart (husband Caleb), Gregory Boyes, Andrew Maclaren and Darsey Maclaren. Great grandchildren include Olive Palmer-Boyes; Malachi, Zeke and Gabe Vorhies; Liviah, Kingston and Haiden DeHart; and Romello and Katori Bell. Our family also includes the wonderful caregivers to our Mom, Grace Ulangkaya and Maria Rice. Anne Wynn was a loving, caring wife, proud mother, grandmother, and great grandmother. Her greatest joy was her family, whom she loved dearly.

The way Anne Wynn was raised greatly influenced her children as we were also allowed the freedom to explore and play in the neighborhood and surrounding woods to our hearts’ content. However, we had better come home when we heard her distinctive whistle or we knew we would be in trouble! Mom’s love of the outdoors greatly influenced her children, who also share the same passion.

Mom’s Dad, our grandfather, owned and operated Sharp’s Drugs in downtown Bradenton. After church and Sunday School Mom and Dad would usually take us to the store for a Coke and snack. We could peruse the selection of comic books and pick one out to take home, as long as we brought it back in good condition to the store the next Sunday.

Anne Wynn was a stay-at-home mom for much of her children’s younger years, but she also worked to help with the family. She worked as a travel agent at Bradenton Travel Agency and also managed a fruit store and fruit shipping office. She was always so personal and friendly with people and worked hard.

Anne Wynn was a lifetime member of First United Methodist Church in downtown Bradenton, where she taught Sunday School, and was a member of the Altar Guild and the Carillon Handbell Choir. She also greatly enjoyed substituting in the St. Joseph Catholic Church Handbell Choir. Other community organizations included Mam’selles, the Entre Nous Service Club of Manatee County and the Bradenton Country Club, where she and Bob were members for approximately 50 years and greatly enjoyed playing golf. Anne Wynn was fond of playing bridge and seeing her friends at the weekly bridge club luncheons was always a highlight. She cared deeply for others and always had time for the church and her friends. Anne Wynn loved the beach, the mountains of North Carolina, long walks around the neighborhood, and visiting with any neighbors and dogs she met along the way.

Visitation will be from 5:00-7:00 PM at Griffith-Cline Funeral Home on June 28, 2023. Celebration of Life Service will be at 10:00 AM on June 29, 2023 at First United Methodist Church, 603 11th St. W., Bradenton, FL 34205.  There will be a private graveside service for the family immediately after the church service.

The family requests that in lieu of flowers, memorials may be made in Anne Wynn’s memory to the First United Methodist Church, 603 11th St. W., Bradenton, FL 34205.