Dorothy Ann Auer

Dorothy Ann Auer, loving mother, wife, and friend, passed into her Savior’s arms from home Wednesday September 20th, 2017 at the age of 93.

Dorothy or “Ann” as she was known to her friends and family, was born in Ypsilanti Michigan on May 11, 1924, the only daughter of Dean and Mildred Briggs. She attended Ypsilanti Central High School where she met her husband to be, Thomas E. Holdridge Sr. After high school Ann went on to attend the University of Michigan in nearby Ann Arbor where she earned a degree in nursing and received her ‘RN’ (registered nurse) certification.

After WWII she married Thomas (Tom) Holdridge and lived from Ann’s nursing income while Tom completed college. During that time her first son, Thomas, was born while they lived together in Willow Run Village, a housing complex that was originally built as home to war time workers for the nearby Ford B-24 manufacturing complex.

Her second son, William, was born in 1953 and in 1956 the family moved from Michigan to West Los Angeles, California so that Tom could take a job with the Hughes Aircraft Company. Soon after, the family moved to a home in Santa Monica, California where they resided for a short time before again re-locating to Santa Ana California in a brand new purchased home.

Over the next several years Ann’s only daughter, Mary, and her two younger sons, Joseph and Michael, were born. Also, for one brief year, the family moved to East Islip, Long Island, New York where they experienced hurricane Donna and quickly moved back to their original home in Santa Ana, California.

In 1962 the family moved to Tustin, California where they remained until all the children were grown and had completed school. While living in Tustin, Ann was employed by the Mar’s Company as an industrial nurse. During that employment, which lasted 16 years, Ann managed the health clinic of Kal Kan Pet Foods and handled the health requirements for several hundred employees. In practice, her career began the template for the role of “Nurse Practitioner” which is prominent in the world of health care today.

In 1981 Ann moved to Santa Cruz, California to be closer to sons Bill and Joe. While living in Santa Cruz, Ann met her second husband, Arthur Auer and they were married in 1983.

Ann and Art lived happily together in Santa Cruz for the next 19 years until Art’s passing in 2012. During their marriage Ann and Art traveled extensively, were very active in local community, and lived their golden years vibrantly. All who knew them admired and cared for them deeply.

In 2013 Ann underwent life-saving open heart surgery for a heart valve transplant which was incredibly successful and blessed her with her 5 remaining years of life.

In 2014 Ann moved to Plantation Place Assisted Living in Boise Idaho where she resided until her passing.

Ann was preceded in death by her son, Joseph, and is survived by her sons Thomas, William, and Michael, and her daughter, Mary. Ann is also survived by her grandchildren Nathan, Brynna, Spencer, William, Anna, Sarah, Joshua, Deseria, and Elizabeth and her many great-grandchildren.

Ann or “Aunti Annie” was a loving mother, grand-mother, aunt, and friend to a huge collection of people who respected and loved her back. Ann loved people, was very interested in who they are and what was happening in their lives. She was admired for her strength, compassion, fortitude, integrity, faith, and intelligence. She will be greatly missed by all but with the knowledge that her incredible faith awarded her immediate passage to her final reward.