Anna Patricia (Wistner) Quarles

Anna Patricia (Wistner) Quarles, 79, passed away peacefully at her home on 5/7/2021 after a long illness.

Funeral services will be held at 10:00 a.m., Tuesday, May 11, 2021, at Old First Orange Baptist Church. Officiating will be Pastor Keith Meyer. Cremation will be held under the direction of Claybar Funeral Home in Orange.

Visitation will be from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., Monday, May 10, 2021, at Old First Orange Baptist Church.

Serving as honorary pallbearers will be Stephen Quarles, Dane Quarles, Jordan Quarles, Jake Quarles, Mark Gunstream, and Ron Risinger.

Born in Long Beach, California where her father was working as a contractor for the Navy on September 1st 1941, she was the daughter of Oscar Francis Wistner Jr. and Lena Belle (Cruse) Wistner of Nederland. She graduated from Nederland High School in 1959, got her undergraduate degree in Education from Lamar University in Beaumont, and Master’s from McNeese University in Lake Charles. She taught Kindergarten and then Second grade at Little Cypress Mauriceville for over 30 years. She truly loved teaching until her retirement. She met the love of her life, J. D. Quarles, in Junior High and they were married in February 1960. They celebrated their 61st anniversary in February of this year.

She is preceded in death by her daughter Donna K. Quarles and her parents. She is survived by her husband of 61 years, James D. Quarles, her older sister Jean Nelson, her younger brothers Rick Wistner, Phil Wistner and Cliff Wistner, her son Dane Francis Quarles and wife Jamie, her son Stephen Wade Quarles and wife Ashley, her grandson Jordan Dane Quarles and wife Amber, her granddaughter Heather Nicole Quarles and fiancé Shane Earnest, her granddaughter Lauren Kay Quarles Garcia and husband Fernando, her grandson Jake Daniel Quarles, and her grandson Harrison Gauthier and her granddaughter Charley Gauthier.

Mom had many gifts. She certainly had the gift of teaching and did not miss her calling in life as to what profession she should choose. Growing up you never knew who would wake you up in the morning before school. A Clown? A Cat? A Scarecrow? Raggedy Ann? Bride of Frankenstein? She was always dressing up for her classroom to make it fun. She would also spend hours at home on her own time preparing to make her classroom an extra special place to learn.

Mom had the gift of hospitality. She really knew how to throw a party! Expect lots of decorations and plenty of food and drinks! Since she was a gourmet cook the food came easy for her. Cooking was not just a hobby for Mom, it was a passion and she was a master at it. We used to always say our Mom could cook dirt and make you want some more. She was also famous for her cookies and she would send a bag home with everyone. Halloween and Christmas were her favorite holidays and she went all out decorating and cooking for both.

Mom loved animals. She would stop on the side of the road to pick up a turtle just to bring it to class to show her students. Once unbeknownst to her, it was a snapping turtle. She figured this out while holding it and showing it to her classroom. At her house there were always bird feeders and she loved seeing the birds that would migrate through. She had many fur babies of her own through the years mostly cats and she passed her love of pets down to her children and grandchildren.

Ann Quarles was many things to different people. She was a daughter, sister, cousin, wife, aunt, mother, friend. She performed all of those titles extremely well. Most of all she cherished being "Honey" which was her grandmother name. Her original desire was to be called "Honey Grams" however all the first grandchild could get out was "Honey" and it stuck. Spending time with her grandchildren meant the world to her. She really loved spending any time with the grandkids but taking them to Lake Sam Rayburn was probably her favorite. She loved to fish, it didn’t matter what she was fishing for she just loved it. She could entertain herself for hours with a can of worms and a bobber catching perch and bream.