Florence Connolly McAninch, a retired laboratory technician and teacher, died on October 5, 2008 in Carrollton, Texas.  She was born in 1915 in Bisbee, Arizona.  She graduated from Immaculate Heart High School in Los Angeles and was awarded a BS degree in bacteriology and chemistry from UCLA.  She and Cal McAninch were married at the Old Mission in Santa Barbara, California in April 1944.   They farmed north of Trent, Texas from 1946 until 1990.  They lived in Merkel, Texas from 1979 until 1998.

Florence worked at Samson Clinic in Santa Barbara, California for 7 years following college.  She, her husband and daughters relocated to Trent, Texas in 1947 and she worked on the farm and as a homemaker raising her three daughters.  Trent High School hired her to teach science, math and German in 1966.  She attended McMurry University for two summers and obtained her teaching degree.  In 1969 she began work with Doctor's Laboratory in Abilene, after regaining her medical laboratory certification. Subsequently, she served as an officer in the national professional organization for lab techs.  After her retirement in 1985, she continued to help Cal with the farm until his retirement. An active member of Our Mother of Mercy Catholic Church in Merkel, Florence served as a Eucharistic Minister, Minister of Care to the sick, and a catechist for many years.

Florence was preceded in death by her husband of 58 years, her parents, a brother, Edward Connolly, a sister, Patricia Connolly, and a son-in-law, Max Lumm.  She is survived by her daughters and sons-in-law Elizabeth McAninch and Will Huddleston of San Francisco, Barbara McAninch of Carrollton, and Linda McAninch and Paul Raybin of Marlboro, New Jersey; five grandchildren Kathleen Fones, James and Rosalind Huddleston and Nate and Rachel Raybin.  She is also survived by her brother and sister-in-law Bishop Randolph and Gloria Connolly of Reno, Nevada, her sisters-in-law Wanda McAninch of Merkel, Margaret McAninch and Bonnie Clampitt of Midland, as well as numerous nieces and nephews.

Visitation with family and friends will be held at Atria Assisted Living, 1825 Arbor Creek Drive, Carrollton on Tuesday evening, October 7th, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m.  Mass of Christian Burial will be held at St. Philip the Apostle Catholic Church in Lewisville, Texas on Wednesday, October 8th at 9:00 a.m.  A full graveside service will be held at Rose Hill Cemetery in Merkel, Texas at 4:00 p.m. on October 8th.

The family requests in lieu of flowers that donations be made to the Prayer Garden Fund at St. Philip the Apostle in Lewisville, Our Mother of Mercy Building Fund in Merkel, Texas, the Trent United Methodist Church Building Fund in Trent, Texas or a charity of your choice.  The family expresses its appreciation to the staff of Atria Assisted Living in Carrollton, for their loving care to Florence McAninch during her 10 years of residence.