Anne Kirkwood Trail

Anne Kirkwood Trail of Spokane, WA passed away on Sunday January 19, 2025 at the age of 86. She was born on July 1, 1938 in Moscow, ID, but grew up in San Francisco, CA until the age of 14, when her family of five – father, Edward, mother, LaVera May, brother John, and sister Aleta returned to the northwest.

She graduated from Moscow High School in 1956, and University of Idaho in 1960 with a BA in Fine Art, and that same year, married her favorite classmate, Donald Trail, in a small family ceremony in Moscow.

For years, she stayed home to raise three children, but went back to school to receive her teaching certificate from Gonzaga University and continued on to teach grade school for many more years.

She was a kind and sensitive mother and wife, and an insightful and compassionate teacher with a gift for understanding and elevating those with special needs. She loved to camp and explore, loved her kids (not just her biological ones – this is what she called her students as well) and pets, and encouraged creativity, problem solving and independence in those around her. But above all, she was an artist. She was a painter and sculptor, and continued creating collages and drawings until the very last days.

She was preceded in death by her parents Edward and LaVera May, as well as numerous aunts, uncles and cousins.

She is survived by her husband of 65 years, Don Trail; children and their spouses: Galen Trail (Teresa), Sarah Trail McGovern (Jim), David Trail (Janet) and grandchildren: Jason Trail, Elissa McGovern, Christian McGovern, Brianna McGovern, Andrew Trail, Jackson Trail and Samantha Trail; and by her sister Aleta Sonneberg (Fred) and brother John Kirkwood (Auslyn) and their children.

As she wished, she was able to remain in her home as she grew frail due to the constant care and compassion provided by her husband, and with help from her children, friends, neighbors and occasional home health care providers and other services.

A Celebration of Life will be held at a later date.