Nelle Annin

Nelle McCuistion Annin (Bitsy) died peacefully Saturday, June 4, 2016 at her daughter, Sarah’s home in Fox River Grove, with Sarah by her side. Nelle (Bitsy) was born in Columbia, Missouri, April 12, 1927 to her parents, Hubert Preston McCuistion M.D., and Nelle Beulah McCuistion. Born a small baby, her parents called her “itsy bitsy baby” which became “Bitsy”, her nickname for life. She grew up active and outgoing. She loved reading, swimming, horse-back riding and boating.

Bitsy attended Monticello High in Godfree, IL, and the University of Illinois, Champaign, where she studied interior design which landed her a job at Lambert’s in St. Louis. She met her husband, Bill, fell in love, married in 1953 and started her family. They moved from St. Louis to Alton, IL where their family grew to four children and Bitsy became active in charitable work, being a founding member of the Alton Junior League.

Bitsy’s family moved many times until 1978, when Bill relocated Bear Archery and their family to Gainesville. Bitsy settled her family, met new friends, and got involved in local charities: the Junior League, UF’s Friends of Five, The Pink Ladies at Alachua General Hospital, and the Gainesville Women’s Club.

After Bear, Bill worked for Aqua-Vac and American Eagle Fire Apparatus Co. before they acquired their own business, Pro-Run Courier Service. Bitsy and Bill worked together with many people at Pro-Run. They also enjoyed spending time sailing and traveling together with friends. When Bill passed away, Bitsy moved to Fox River Grove to live with her daughter and family.

Bitsy was a loving mother, wife, and a friend to many. She was a helpful, thoughtful, understanding, and a wonderful woman who loved life and loved living. She will be greatly missed by her family and friends.

Bitsy is preceded in death by her husband, William P. Annin; her brother, Hubert P. McCuistion, Jr.; her parents, Hubert P. McCuistion M.D., and Nelle Beulah Munger McCuistion; her step mother, Elisabeth Duncan McCuistion; her second step mother, Florence McCuistion; her aunt, Margie McCuistion; and her sister-in-law, Mitsey Munger.

She is survived by her two daughters, Susan Elizabeth (Thomas) Finn, and Sarah Alice (Charles) Neal; her two sons, John McCuistion (Christina Miller) Annin, and William Prentence (Amber) Annin, Jr., and her eight grandchildren, Kathryn Finn Moore, Thomas William (Jennifer Hawkins) Finn, William Alexander Annin, Karen Ashley Annin, Riley Victoria Annin, William Cole Annin, Tyler Clayton Neal, and Hunter Skye Annin; and one great-grandchild, Eleanor Grace Moore. She is also survived by her step brother, John Munger, and his two children, John and Linda; her sister-in-law, Beatrice (William) Hostetler and their three children, Ann, Chris, and William; and her cousins, John and Bill Duncan.

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