Anne Mears passed away on August 2, 2022 at the Laramie Care Center. She was born in Nashua, New Hampshire on May I 0, 1926. She graduated from Vassar College in Poughkeepsie, New York in 1947 with a major in art and art history. From 1947 to 1948, she attended the Rhode Island School of Design in Providence. She married Brainerd “Nip” Mears Jr. in 1948. They moved to Laramie in 1949, when Nip joined the faculty in the Geology Department at the University of Wyoming. Under the tutelage of Robert Russin, Anne received her Master of Art degree in 1954. Her main project toward earning that degree was the creation of the bas-relief located on the front of the United Presbyterian Church on 11th and Grand. Continuing her artistic talents, she illustrated Clarise Whittenburg’s fourth grade text, “Wyoming’s People” and her husband’s introductory geology text, “The Changing Earth.” When Robert Russin and Richard Evens were on sabbatical, she filled in as an instructor in the UW Art Department, teaching life drawing, basic form and sculpture.
The family purchased their first Morgan Horses in the mid I960s. In 1973 she and her daughter, Alison, formally started Mears Morgans. In addition to raising many quality show, pleasure, family and performance horses, for over forty years, the farm produced two national champions, MM Lyndon in 1977 and Flint-wood Starlet in 2008.
Throughout her life, Anne, was involved in many community activities: She was a Blue Bird (Junior Campfire) leader for her daughters, volunteered at the Ivinson Hospital gift shop, was a member of Zonta International and the Albany County Cow Bells. Anne and Nip’s community contributions included: helping acquire Laramie’s first building for the Association for Retarded Citizens (now called ARK) by LaBonte Park. They contributed to a reading area in the Albany County Public Library in memory of their son Brainerd Bartlett Mears, purchased a paving stone and other contributions to the Wyoming Territorial Prison Historical Site, sponsored a garage for the Eppson Center for Seniors, and the Vince Valdez bronze eagle by the entrance to the Laramie Community College campus building.
Anne loved to travel. All-in-all, she had been to all seven continents. She was an avid doll collector. She had an extensive collection of antique, regional and foreign dolls. The bulk of her collection was donated to the United Federation of Doll Club’s national museum in Kansas City, Missouri.
Anne was preceded in death by her husband Brainerd, her brothers David and John Carter, and her son Brainerd Bartlett Mears.
She is survived by her brother Richard Carter (Angela Moore), daughters, Alison Mears of Laramie, Carolina Carter of Fairfax, Virginia, Holly Cordary of Evanston, Wyoming, her grandson, Rodger Cordary of Laramie and numerous nieces and nephews.
She had requested no service. Memorial contributions may be made to the charity of your choice.
Go to www.montgomerystryker.com to send condolences or to sign the online guestbook.
Anne was an amazing person who had a big heart and a generous nature. Her support of the UW Geological Museum through the years has been the primary reason we have been able to maintain this institution, making it available to visitors from across the world, and providing programming to Wyoming students and educators on the natural history of the state. Please know that Anne is considered a hero to our department and her generosity and support will never be forgotten.
Please know that you have my deepest sympathy on the loss of your mother/grandmother. I know that there is little I can say to console you but please know that our thoughts and prayers are with you and your family at this time. Anne will be deeply missed.
I enjoyed listening to Anne tell about her travels all around the world, and was amazed at all of her accomplishments. We would try to have lunch once a year, for her birthday, always went to Sweet Melisa's. My condolences to her family.
I respected and admired Mrs. Mears very much, and enjoyed her when I boarded horses at Mears Morgan. My condolences to her family.