Ann Myers knew how to raise money, make people laugh and bring disparate groups together, friends say.
Myers, director of communications and marketing for Rangeview Library District, died unexpectedly May 13. She was 47.
Myers died of a pulmonary embolism, her mother, Nancy Myers, said. Ann Myers was found dead in her Westminster home after she didn’t show up at work.
“Ann could chat up anyone from any age or ethnic background,” said Ronnie Storey, public service director of Rangeview, which includes six libraries in Adams County.
Last year, when Rangeview was working to get the mill levy raised for a new library, Myers went door to door. She didn’t just drop off leaflets or ask for money. “She asked the people how we could make the library better,” said Storey. The campaign was successful.
In meetings, Myers always knew what to do when someone said, “Yes, but . . .,” said Storey. “She’d pull the ideas all together and bring everyone back to the center. She was very articulate and thoughtful. But she could also make people laugh by putting in a comment sideways and then wait to see if you got it.”
“She kept us from looking at ourselves too seriously and burrowing in” on positions, said Pam Sandlian-Smith, library director. “She just had a natural ability to connect people with each other.”
Myers loved animals, kids, skiing, biking and working out, said her mother.
She often took kids camping and fishing.
As a kid, “she was always bringing animals home, and she couldn’t understand why I wasn’t thrilled with the fourth cat she brought home,” Nancy Myers said.
Ann Elizabeth Myers was born in Boulder on Aug. 9, 1960, and graduated from Fairview High School. She earned a mass communications degree at the University of Denver and worked at television stations in Sterling and Grand Junction; Huntsville, Ala.; and Lafayette, La.
“She did everything from moving prompt cards to reporting,” said her mother.
Ann Myers moved back to Colorado in 2000 to take the job at Rangeview.
In addition to her mother she is survived by two brothers, Scott Myers and Richard Myers, both of Boulder; her stepfather, Ben Younglove of Lafayette; and her stepbrother, Bruce Younglove of Boulder.
Virginia Culver: 303-954-1223 or vculver@denverpost.com
