Mary Anna was born May 16, 1927 to the proud parents Booker & Mamie McNeely in Morrilton, AK. "Anna", as she liked to be called, attended public schools in Arkansas. She accepted Christ to be her "Personal Savior and Friend" at an early age and was baptized under the leadership of Pastor J. R. Jimeson, Union Baptist Church, Morrilton, Arkansas. Anna had only 1 brother, Buddy McNeely.

In Mary Anna's teenage years, she found a friend, companion and soul mate in a young man named Joe Henry Curtis from Plumersville, Arkansas. She and Joe courted and as they became close friends, they grew fond of one another. The relationship soon grew into love. Although Mary Anna was 17 years of age at the time, both Joe & Anna knew they wanted to marry and spend the rest of their lives together. Joe asked Mr. & Mrs. McNeely for Mary Anna's hand in marriage and received their blessing. Marital Vows were exchanged at Union Baptist Church in 1944.

After marriage they continued to reside in Morrilton in a 2-bedroom home Joe built himself. To this union four children were born: One son, Joseph "Henry" Curtis, Jr.; daughters, Victory Louise, Hellen Louise and Doris Mae. To accommodate his growing family, Joe built additional rooms on to their existing home.

Mary Anna grew up battling serious health issues with Asthma. Their family physician advised Joe to move his family to a better climate so that Mary Anna wouldn't be so ill. Joe ventured out in several states looking for employment and was hired with The Boeing Company in Wichita, KS. They made Plainview their home in 1953.

Mary Anna was very eager to find a church home for her family. She and Joe united with the Plainview Community Church in 1953 under the leadership of Reverend Curtis Williams. Later, she became a member of the newly organized Strangers Rest Missionary Baptist Church. Mary Anna was a devoted and active member of the Rebecca Mission Circle and the Mother's Board Ministry. Mary Anna had a love for her church and thoroughly enjoyed attending the various services that were offered. Anna would also host Mission & Bible study in her home through the years.

Mary Anna was fortunate enough to choose not to work outside of the home while her children attended school. She was a loving, dedicated wife to her husband and mother to her four children. It wasn't until her last child Doris Mae graduated from high school that she found employment outside the home. Her first job was private duty housekeeping for several prominent people in the community. Later, Mary Anna worked for School Board USD 259 and retired in May of 1992 after working there for 17 years.

Anna's hobbies were sewing, gardening and planting flowers and shopping. Anna often made her own clothing. Anyone that knew her, knew her love for flowers. She was blessed with "a green thumb". Whatever she planted grew. Her flowers of choice were roses. Her neighbors, friends and family knew that if you messed with the roses along side her fence, you'd have trouble on your hands and that trouble was Anna! Mary Anna also enjoyed her Soap Operas. What made her day, sometimes Pastor Burkhalter would often stop by to check on her and they would spend time together looking at soaps and talking to the TV. Victor Newman on the soap opera "The Young and the Restless" was their favorite character.

Those of you who knew Anna knew she had a deep love for her children and was very proud of them. Her main goal in life was to see that all her children graduated from high school and found good jobs and she lived to see her goal materialize.

On the morning, of April 5, 2022 our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ picked a beautiful rose from his garden named Mary Anna and she was called to eternal rest to reunite with her loved ones who passed on before her. Her parents Booker & Mamie McNeely; brother, Buddy McNeely; husband Joe Curtis Sr; son, Joseph "Henry" Curtis Jr., and two (2) daughters, Victory Ware and Hellen Atkins. There is no doubt that Anna is enjoying herself talking, , hugging, holding hands, laughing and kissing all of them of which she longed to be with for a long time.

Mary Anna leaves to cherish her life: her youngetst daughter Doris (Roy T.) Wells, Sr. of Wichita, KS; 7 Grandchildren; 7 Great Grandchildren: her Aunt & Uncle, Ranie & Nathaniel Estes of Denver, CO.; nephew, Joe "Petelum" McNeely of Las Vegas, NV; Stacey Charles, KCM,  daughter-in-law, Ida Curtis of Wichita,KS