Ann Atkinson McNabb's remarkable 89-year journey came to a peaceful close on Monday, April 14, 2025. She leaves us with countless memories and a lasting impact.

Born on March 1, 1936, Ann lived a life defined by service, grit, and hospitality. She will be deeply missed by her family, her friends, and her community.

Ann is survived by her children, Jack "Bryan" McNabb Jr., Bruce McNabb, Margaret "Meg" (McNabb) McKniff, and Amy (McNabb) Van Vleck; sons-in-law, Kevin McKniff and Al Van Vleck, and daughter-in-law Patricia "Patty" McNabb, along with her cherished grandchildren, Christopher McNabb, Emily (McNabb) Butler, Erin (McKniff) Bandy, Morgan McKniff, Victoria Van Vleck, Stephen Van Vleck and Rachael "Ray" Van Vleck, plus five precious great-grandchildren. She was predeceased by her parents, Thomas G. Atkinson and Evelyn Pryor Atkinson, her husband of 55 years, Jack Bryan McNabb, and one son, Mark Lea McNabb.

Born in Chattanooga, Tennessee, Ann was the only child of Thomas and Evelyn Atkinson. She attended Chattanooga High School where she was involved in several school clubs. While in college, in 1955, she married her high school sweetheart, Jack Bryan McNabb, who loved her deeply and treated her like a queen. She always planned to have a large family.

Through the 1950s, '60s, and '70s, she was a wife and mother, an activist, and a woman in the workforce. In the 1980s, she became a business owner, a philanthropist, a health coach, a grandmother, and - later - a great-grandmother.

She believed strongly in helping people. As an entrepreneur, she opened Back to Basics Health Food Store(s) in Rockwall and Garland to educate people about the importance of nutrition and well-being. Within the community, she was the founding patroness of the Lone Star Chapter of National Charity League: a mother-daughter philanthropic service organization that has served the residents of Rockwall, Texas, since 1983. Her love for her town and its residents was expressed through her hours of devoted service and hard work.

Ann was a history buff and strongly believed that history should have a place in our hearts, in our schools, and in our homes. That its knowledge serves a great purpose for future generations; so that we may learn, improve, and never forget. When retired, Ann and Jack took to the road in their RV to visit distant family and friends and to see the beauty and monuments of this great land.

Mom passed from this world from the most natural of causes: raising four children, working and playing hard, and caring for others. She parted at an age reflecting a life well-lived.

She slipped peacefully into the loving arms of Jesus right after sunset on April 14, 2025. After what we can only imagine was a long, peaceful embrace, we trust she was reunited with Jack and the son they never had the privilege to raise, and rejoined with her doting father and mother. We rejoice for that beautiful reunion – and expect to have the same for all who believe that Jesus is the path to heaven, to peace on earth, and to eternal life.

Ann will be deeply missed by those who had the privilege to know and love her. May her memory be a blessing as she rests in eternal peace.

They say a picture is worth 1,000 words ...

If that's true, then Ann McNabb gathered millions of words with her camera.

She loved to take pictures. Baby pictures, birthday pictures, camping pictures, first day of school pictures, dance pictures, Scout pictures, Christmas pictures - including the traditional “stocking-opening” pictures - travel pictures, pictures of her beloved pets and her adorable grandchildren, pictures of visitors, of family reunions and of sunsets over Lake Ray Hubbard.

Was she a photographer? No - not by any means. She was a memory keeper.

We invite you to share your photos in the Memories section of this site. If each picture is worth 1,000 words, then -  collectively - we can tell a million stories to memorialize her journey. As a tribute to Ann, we invite you to keep her memory alive here.

"What we have once enjoyed we can never lose. All that we love deeply becomes a part of us." - Helen Keller

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