Ann Elizbeth Maryott, 54, of Wayne, died March 13, 2023, at the Stanton Care Center after a year-long battle with esophageal cancer.
Visitation will be held on Sunday, March 19 from 2 to 4 p.m. at the Munderloh - Smith Funeral Home in Pender. A graveside service will be held Monday, March 20 at 2 p.m. at the Rosehill Cemetery in Pender.
Memorial donations are suggested to the Stanton Care Center.
Ann Elizbeth Maryott was born Aug. 11, 1968, in Onawa, Iowa to Charles (Ed) and Jean Maryott. She was the second of five children. At a very young age, Ann was diagnosed as having a severe developmental disability resulting in her being non-verbal her entire life. Through the help of kind and dedicated educators and caregivers at Region IV and NorthStar Services in Wayne, Nebraska, Ann was able to learn basic life skills and some sign communication.
Anyone who met Ann would tell you that her communication was never a problem. She was able to get her point across and her personality always shone through – even without words. Ann loved 80’s pop music — especially the songs from the Footloose soundtrack, car rides, coffee, food, and fashion—she was rarely without her pearls. She loved shoes especially. On visits home, her sisters’ shoes would often make their way into Ann’s suitcase. Ann had a wicked sense of humor and was quick to laugh at any type of physical humor.
Ann’s life was meaningful and her disabilities only highlighted her many abilities. She taught all in her circle many life lessons—the importance of resilience, the power of humor, the unity of acceptance, the gift of unconditional love, and the determination of pure grit. To the end, she fought her battle with this terrible disease with strength and grace.
Survivors include her mother Jean Maryott of Sioux City, Iowa; her brother, Charles (Chick) Maryott of Walthill; her sisters, Sue Maryott of Chicago, Illinois, Megan Kokenge (Scott) of Omaha and Beth Porter (Mark) of Wisner and her nieces, Sydney, Leighton and Nora Porter and Reese Kokenge.
She was preceded in death by her father Charles (Ed) Maryott, her paternal grandparents Charles (Chick) and Edna Maryott, and her maternal grandparents John and Peg Murphy.
The family wishes to thank the nurses and staff at the Stanton Care Center for their exceptional care of Ann over the past several months.
