Anna O’Reilly Koester, age 77, of Shalimar, FL passed away Wednesday, April 18, 2018. Anna was born April 14, 1941 in Cloverport, Kentucky, the daughter of Charles Edward O’Reilly and Geneva Mae Pate O’Reilly. Anna graduated from the University of Evansville in Evansville, Indiana where she majored in elementary education. She later received her Master’s degree in education from Miami University of Ohio. Anna was a stay-at-home mom who did not stay at home much. She was involved in the Fort Walton Beach Junior Woman’s Club, church circles, and other organizations. When her daughters were five and seven, she took a pottery class which was the beginning of a new artistic career. She loved making pottery and worked very hard at it, selling through art fairs, galleries, and shops. Pottery was not Anna’s only skill. She was also a talented painter. Anna embraced life. Anna was always interested in learning and expanding on her talents, so she continued to take watercolor classes and paint. She also loved having the time to travel with her husband, Allen, and her sister, Charlotte, and friends to many different countries. She loved her friends dearly. She kept busy with book club, gourmet group, and “lunch bunch”, and shared so many wonderful moments with friends. Anna was a wonderful mother to her daughters, Adrianne and Allison, and a devoted and loving wife to her husband, Allen. She is preceded in death by her husband of 47 years, Allen Koester, and her sister, Charlotte O’Reilly. Survivors include her two daughters, Adrianne Turturro and husband Vince of Milton, GA, and Allison Ward and husband Jim of Shalimar, FL; five grandchildren, Nicholas and Christian Turturro of Milton, GA and Karly, Alex, and Jamie Ward of Shalimar, FL. Anna will be remembered as a talented, warm, and loving person who inspired many to embrace life with positive vigor and happiness. The family will hold a Celebration of Life service on Saturday, May 26, 2018 at 10:00 am at Shalimar United Methodist Church in Shalimar, Florida. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the American Heart Association at https://donatenow.heart.org/ and the Susan G. Komen Foundation at https://ww5.komen.org/Donate/Donate.html.
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