Anita M. Poarch died peacefully at her home, surrounded by family on March 22, 2024. She was born on October 26, 1940, and grew up in Oklahoma City where she attended St. Villa Teresa Elementary and McGuinness High School. She was May Queen. She then worked her way through what is now the University of Central Oklahoma but was formerly known as Central State College. She was vice president of Alpha Chi Honor Society and graduated as an honor student. While at CSC, she met her future husband John E. Poarch, MD. Working as a technician at the VA Hospital, she supported the family through med school.

The Poarches had three children, nine grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren. When the children were older, she went back to CSC to study art. She started the art program at Deer Creek School and recruited other devoted mothers to teach. In addition, she co-started the Farm and Barn Tour which raised a hundred thousand dollars for the school. When the children were grown, she opened a clothing and gift store which eventually was located in downtown Edmond. After retiring, she became an avid Master Gardener and taught and practiced gardening with intense passion.

Anita bought groceries and delivered them for Meals on Wheels for over 40 years. As a devoted, quintessential mother and grandmother, she took care of anyone she was around, including the geese, deer, and any other animals who came to their yard. She was very intelligent, always winning the family games of Trivial Pursuit and Scrabble. She enjoyed cooking meals for everyone, such as her famous chicken & rice, mac & cheese, and chocolate chip cookies, to name a few. She loved to read, crochet, and sew. She gifted homemade blankets and hats to all of her children and grandchildren, and sewed pillowcases for Case for Smiles, a nonprofit organization providing pillowcases for children with cancer in the hospital.

All of her extended family made it home when she was in Trinity Hospice Care. She is survived by her husband of 63 years, John E. Poarch, MD; three children, David and wife, Carol, John Eric and wife, Kelly, and Maria and husband, Dave Langworthy; grandchildren, Peter and wife, Jaime, Haley, Kendra, Parker, Meade, Georgia, Addie, Tanner Pruden, and Zander Pruden; great-grandchildren, Blaire and John Wallace. In lieu of flowers, please donate to the OK County Master Gardener Program or Peppers Ranch Foster Care.

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