- Date Of Birth: August 8, 1920
- Date Of Death: March 13, 2015
- State: Idaho
Anna Ynes Urrusuno (Ann) was born in Boise August 8, 1920, the fifth of the five children of Lazaro and Ynes Echevarri Urrusuno. Lazaro and Ynes were born, grew up and married in 1910 in Naxitua, Bizkaia, where their first child, Jose, was born. (Lazaro first came to Idaho in 1902. He worked in Jordon Valley then owned and operated the Merino Bar in Boise. He returned to Bizkaia to be married). They came to the United States in 1912. They lived in California and Nevada, then settled in Idaho. Jose died at an early age; the remaining children, Ann, Marie Antonia, Aurora Felicia (“Yo”), Jesus Lazaro (“Jess”) were very close to their parents and to one another.
The four children went to a one-room school house in the New Plymouth area. It was a 2.5 mile cross-country walk and deep snow in the winter made it tougher. Lazaro wrapped their legs with gunny sacks to keep them dry and warm as they made those winter treks. In spite of the challenges, all four Urrusunos received State of Idaho perfect attendance awards and no tardiness certificates for grades 1 – 8. While in high school Ann was Queen of the Cherry Blossom Festival. She graduated from New Plymouth High School in 1937.
Ann’s parents purchased a farm near Star; it became home to all the family members, wherever they lived. Marie and her husband Russ Clayton brought their children up from California, and the grandparents, grandchildren, mom and dad, aunts and uncles spent every vacation together.
Ann and her family were devoted to their many friends in the Basque community. Her lifelong friend Doris Evans, Hilma and Signa Peterson, Mary Champion, Clyde and Helen Rutledge, John and Charlotte Lynch and so many others. They played an important part in Ann’s life.
After graduating from Boise Business College, Ann had two jobs with the Bureau of Land Management then settled into the Bureau of Reclamation Field Solicitor’s Office in Boise. She worked as the legal secretary for attorney William Burpee. They were the lead legal office for both Lucky Peak and Arrowrock Dams projects.
Ann enjoyed life – food tasted good, the sky was beautiful, nature was a wonder. She was very proud of her Basque heritage, and she was part of the founding generation of the Basque Museum and Cultural Center.
Ann and her family are forever grateful for the six years of kind and loving care she received from her caregiver, Theresa Sanchez.
Ann was preceded in death by her parents, her brother and sisters. She is survived by her nephew Bill Clayton, his wife Diane and their sons: Steve Clayton, children Zachary and Naomi and their mother, Jennifer Smackey; Mike Clayton, his wife Maria and their children Alisa and Sonia; and Joe Clayton, his wife Sarah and their children Amaya, Alec and Owen. She is also survived by her niece Kathy Clayton-Wonderlich and her husband Lyle, and their sons: Brian Wonderlich, his wife Megan Mooney and their son, Hank; Jason Wonderlich, his wife Meghan and their children Luke and Annie; and John Wonderlich, his wife Sara and their daughter, Jessalyn.
