Anne Sutherland Pfeiffer

Anne Sutherland Pfeiffer passed away Wednesday, July 27, 2016, at her home in Missoula in the loving presence of her family from liver cancer resulting from Hepatitis C.

She was born in Oakland, California, on July 2, 1953, to Jean and E.W. (Bert) Pfeiffer. The family moved to Missoula in 1959, where she attended Paxson Elementary and Hellgate High School. Anne was a free spirited and creative soul, somewhat defiant, and always seeking the beauty in life. After high school and in true Anne fashion, she displayed her independent and adventuresome nature by hopping a freight train with friends to Spokane to see a music concert. Her parents received a late night phone call from a very thoughtful sheriff who told them he put Anne on a bus to Missoula.

Anne was loving, caring, thoughtful and fiercely independent. She was a social justice warrior who fought to improve working conditions for health providers through her leadership in her nurses union in Montana. Anne helped start a Hepatitis C support group in Montana and joined national efforts to fight for patients’ rights; she recently attended a march on Washington to support improved funding for those infected with Hepatitis C and HIV.

Anne’s creative drive found an outlet in her powerful, expressive and original artwork that included sculpture, painting, mask making and photography. Her art captured her love of the outdoors but also provided a channel for clever and cutting political commentary. Anne was an avid outdoorswoman who adored Western Montana finding time to camp, hike, and spend long lazy days at Flathead Lake whenever she could. Her artful and loving free spirit was unique in every way and will be forever missed by her family and many friends.

Anne married Douglas James and moved to Nevada where their daughter, Amanda, was born in 1973. Anne returned to Missoula with Amanda, where she began her nursing program at the Montana State University. Upon receiving a Bachelor of Science in nursing, she began her professional career as an obstetrics nurse at Missoula Community Hospital, where she was employed for 25 years.

Anne pursued her passion for art by enrolling in the School of Art at the University of Montana. As a student, Anne received a number of awards for her artwork, including the prestigious Rudy Autio award for a clay sculpture titled “Excessive Force”. After retirement, she also spent many happy years participating in Living Art of Montana, an organization that provides support for individuals dealing with terminal illnesses and loss. Through Living Art Anne developed deeply valued friendships that were essential to sustaining her through her final difficult years. She produced some of her most compelling art work in the program.

On June 30, 2016, Anne married her love and lifelong partner, Craig Pratt. She joked that after 23 years Craig finally made an honest woman of her. Craig and Anne traveled the world and the country, from Africa and Central America to Montana and the Oregon coast.

Anne was preceded in death by her father, Bert Pfeiffer; paternal grandparents; her Canadian maternal grandparents and numerous aunts and uncles. She is survived by her husband, Craig Pratt, at their family home; her daughter Amanda James and grandson Jaden Abbey of Ukiah, California; her mother Jean Sutherland Pfeiffer of Missoula; brothers Eric Pfeiffer of Missoula and James Pfeiffer of Seattle; sister-in-law, Rachel Chapman Pfeiffer of Seattle; niece Solea Pfeiffer of New York and numerous relatives in Canada and throughout the United States.

Family and friends will gather for a celebration of Anne’s life early this fall.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be offered in Anne’s name to Living Art of Montana through their website livingartofmontana.org/Home or mailed to: Living Art of Montana, Warehouse Mall, 725 W Alder St., Suite 17, Missoula, MT 59802.