Anne Otto, a resident of Midpines for nearly 30 years, died peacefully in the home of her caregiver, Mena Bahia, in Atwater at 11 a.m. on Sunday, Jan. 17.

Anne was born April 30, 1927, brought up a devout Catholic on the family farm in Michigan, where she kept up with her brothers, Stephen, Anthony, and Willis Otto.

She served her country in the Women’s Army Corps, which provided the financial means of attending college. She studied at Rutgers University in New Jersey. Anne became good friends with Connie Holland, and introduced her to the joys of camping. Connie and Anne moved to Garden Grove, California, where Anne was a scientist with the Food and Drug Administration for many years.

Lengthy traffic-filled drives to work every morning and concerns about Connie’s health caused Anne and Connie to search for peace in the foothills of the Sierra. Anne took early retirement to move to Midpines, when the historic home built by Newell Chamberlain became available while they were in Midpines on a Merced River fishing trip.

Connie and Anne participated with the Midpines Booster Club during the time when they built the Midpines Fire Station. Anne was a member of the Midpines Community Planning Advisory Committee until health concerns prevented participation. Early during retirement, she set up a private wood shop in her basement, and produced furniture and made icons, which she donated to various monasteries.

Anne lived alone in that house overlooking Bear Creek for over 20 years after Connie’s death in 1989. She traveled, was passionately involved in writing classes, and took up painting after Connie died. Her house looked like an art gallery. She was proud of the awards she received for her paintings in the Mariposa Fair.

Anne’s parents, Franz Stephen and Lucy Permilia Brooks Otto, and Anne’s three brothers predeceased her. Anne is survived by her brothers’ children. Her brother Stephen’s children are Fr. Peter Otto, and Sallee O’Dwyer; Anthony’s children are Michael and Karl Otto, and Marjorie Olsen, Karen Miscovich, Trissa Otto, and Barbara Acuna; and Willis’s children are Richard, James and Kenji Otto, and Kimi Otto, Naomi Miller and Tami Williams, and Willis’ wife Mary. There are numerous great nieces and nephews and three great grand nieces or nephews expected this year.

Anne’s Catholic faith sustained her, and was freely shared, throughout her life. Her memorial mass was held on Monday at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Mariposa.