Anne Walden Duffer, 86, of Blue Springs, Missouri, died May 7, 2018, at John Knox Village in Lee’s Summit.  

Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Thursday, May 17, at the First Christian Church of Knob Noster. Friends may visit with her husband and family from 1 p.m. until service time at the church.

She was born on June 1, 1931, in Knob Noster, Missouri, to Dr. Gulph and Mary (Albaugh) Grove. Anne graduated from Knob Noster High School and from William Woods College. She worked for many years as a kindergarten teacher in the Kansas City area and later was head librarian at the Audubon Library in the Jackson County park system, where she was able to share with the library’s patrons expertise garnered from a lifelong interest in birds and their natural habitat.

In 1953, Anne married Russell Duffer, who survives her. They were happily married for 65 years. She is also survived by a brother-in-law, Ralph Rinne, several nieces and nephews, and several great-nieces and great-nephews.

She is preceded in death by her sisters Mary Alice Grove and Eleanor (Grove) Rinne and her parents.

Anne was passionate about the environment and all living things. For the 50 years that she and Russell lived in Blue Springs, she kept a beautiful garden and made sure the surrounding birds found a hearty welcome at her feeders. She loved her cats and her dogs and no creature ever came to harm at her hands. Her family and friends both admired and respected her and always felt happy in her presence.

Memorial contributions are suggested to Wayside Waifs and can be left in care of Sweeney-Phillips & Holdren Funeral Home. Please share memories and leave condolences at www.sweeneyphillipsholdren.com.