Ann Kimberly Dirks died peacefully at a senior care facility in West Seattle on January 3, 2021. She was 82. 

The mother of five boys, Ann was known for her spirited, outgoing personality and quick humor that helped her develop deep and lasting connections with neighbors, co-workers, friends, and within her large extended family. Born in Bellingham, Ann moved with her parents, Clair and Alta Smith, to West Seattle as a child.

Ann was a 1956 graduate of West Seattle High School and went on to attend Washington State College. She married Martin (Marty) Dirks in 1959. Marty took an engineering job in New Jersey where their twin sons Greg and Brian were born, but, missing Washington, the couple returned to their home state a few months later.

Ann and Marty had three more sons: John, Stephen and Tom. Ann’s life became a hubbub of cross-neighborhood gatherings, Scouts, household duties and shepherding her boys to their various activities. In the 1960s, Ann and Marty built a two-bedroom cabin on Camano Island where the family spent most summer weekends and vacation time. Ann also enjoyed numerous family camping and boating trips, along with family travels throughout the West Coast.

As her sons grew older Ann took a job with the West Seattle Herald, where she typed up community news items and classified advertisements, greeted customers, and served as volunteer coordinator for the West Side Story, an extensive community history published in 1987.

Ann was an avid volunteer for the Southwest Seattle chapter of Ryther, an organization that provides mental health and substance abuse services to youth. In their retirement years Ann and Marty split time between homes in West Seattle and Camano Island. They also took numerous cruises, traveled around the world, and looked forward to their annual ski trip with family and friends to McCall, Idaho. 

In addition to Marty and their five sons, all of whom live in the greater Seattle area, Ann is survived by nine grandchildren, a step-grandson and two great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her sister Jane. Her brother, Stuart Smith, lives in Gresham, Oregon.  

An online memorial service is at 11 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 6 – please contact RememberingAnn@utsservices.net to be included. Ann will be interred near her parents and other family at the Woodlawn Cemetery in Ferndale. The family suggests remembrances in her name to Ryther or to the West Seattle Food Bank. You may share memories of Ann and visit the full obituary page and online guest book at obituary page and online guestbook at: www.emmickfunerals.com.  

The family would like to acknowledge the caregivers and staff at Aegis Living of West Seattle for their tremendous care and support of Ann during her final months.