Annamarie was a devoted teacher. She taught for 32 years in one-room schools and in central schools, grades Kindergarten through grade 8 throughout the Fulton and Montgomery County areas of New York State. She taught the longest at Mayfield Central School, Mayfield, NY where she taught 5th grade. She loved teaching and was a very effective teacher. For many years, students would tell the family that she was their favorite teacher and their best teacher. Annamarie was an avid doll collector. She collected over 1000 dolls, most of them purchased after her retirement2 and was one of the founding members of the Tryon Doll Club based in Gloversville, NY.1272 She also loved camping and traveling. She especially loved camping in truck campers and motorhomes before and after retirement.2 First and foremost, however, Annamarie loved her family, especially her children. She told many stories about them to her classroom students. She was also devoted to her sisters and brothers and their families.2 Annamarie loved cats (especially long-haired Persians and Maine Coon Cats) and she loved to read. She also enjoyed crafts, especially knitting and crochet. Her favorite craft for years was liquid embroidery painting that was popular during the 1970’s.2 “Ree” and “Bunny Rabbit” were nicknames given to Annamarie and used by her husband, Howard.2

1919:
Annamarie was born at “6 o’clock in the evening at Grandma’s”, 1 Jan 1919;210,219 “Gramma” Ralbovsky’s (Anna Sofka Ralbovsky) West Madison Ext. home in Johnstown, NY.8
Although the birth certificate and the Baptismal certificate spell her name as "Anna Marie", the common, preferred, and legal spelling throughout her life was "Annamarie".8,9,2

A Baptism rite for Annamarie was performed by Rev. Anthony Filkern. Her Godparents were Paul and Rose Dracka10

After Archibald Sprungs death, Annamarie and her mother lived with the Ralbovskys until her mother remarried. When Anna Ralbovsky Sprung married Harry Gifford, the family moved to an adjoining property, a home on Knox Ave. Annamarie spent much of her time (as much as she could) at her Gramma’s house. She was always her Gramma’s and Grampa’s special grandchild, probably because she was the first and she had lived with them for so long.2

Later on, the Gifford family purchased and moved to a home outside of Johnstown, NY in the Albany Bush/Rt. 29 area.2 This home was owned by Annamarie’s brother, Raymond Gifford until ca 2013, and is near the Fulton County Airport.2

Annamarie attended the Albany Bush School, Johnstown, NY270 as a child.

1936:
Annamarie Gifford graduated on 24 June 1936 with a High School diploma and an Academic Regents Diploma from Johnstown High School, Johnstown, NY.1273
Annamarie love acting. She had the lead part in her Senior play, “Boston Blues.” 1274
She substitute taught at the Keck Center (NY) school for several weeks after graduation.1275

1939:
Annamarie Gifford finished the course of study in education and graduated12 on 11 Aug 1939 from the State Normal School Cortland, New York with a Provisional Certificate for Teaching in the Public Elementary School1276. She was the first in her graduating class to obtain a teaching job and she taught grades 3, 4, and 5 at the Ephratah (NY) school for the 1939-1940 school year.1275 Annamarie went back to the State Teachers College at Cortland for several summers in order to earn her Bachelor degree.8

Annamarie put herself through college. While living in Cortland she boarded with the S. G. Bascom family, paying for her room and board by cleaning house and babysitting for the family. Her address was 11 Parker Ave., Cortland, New York.8,1277

While at Cortland, she was a member of Hilltop Masquers, a drama organization.

1940-1943:
During the 1940-1941 school year, Annamarie taught grades 1 through 8 at the Hales Mills (NY) school.1275 She then taught grades 1 through 8 the following two years at the Garoga (NY) school (1941-1942 and 1942-1943).8

1944-1945:
Annamarie taught grades 1through 8 at the North Bush (NY) school for two years during World War II (1943-1944 and 1944-1945).213,1275 She graduated on 12 Jun 1944 from the State Teachers College at Cortland, New York, with a Bachelor of Education Degree1278 She then taught grade 4 at the Fonda Elementary School for the 1945-1946 school year.1275 She was married to Howard Francis Reed on 6 Oct 1945.8,2

1946-1948:
After they were married, Howard and Annamarie moved into Howard’s childhood home, the Harry Reed farm located on McQuade Road near Cranesville, NY. They lived in one side of the house, while “Jump” Reed and Howard’s sister Eunice Przybylo and her family lived on the other side of the house. According to Howard and Annamarie, there was no running water or interior bathroom in the home.7,8

On 20 Jun 1946, Howard and Annamarie purchased a home in North Broadalbin, NY.2,20 Since the drive to Fonda was so long, Annamarie Reed stayed home and did not teach during the 1946-1947 school year.8 Annamarie returned to teaching during the 1947-1948 school year, teaching grades 1 through 6 at the Hills Corners School, part of the Perth (NY) Central School District.8,1275 In the fall of 1948, Annamarie began teaching Kindergarten at the Broadalbin (NY) Central School, where she remained teaching until 1952 when her daughter, Laurel was born.8,1275

1949:
Annamarie Gifford received her Permanent Certification for Teaching in the Public Elementary School on 1 Sep 1949 after obtaining her Bachelor in Education degree and teaching for five years.1279

1952:
Laurel Ann was born on 24 Oct 1952.

1955:
On 3 Jan 1955, Howard and Annamarie purchased Pelcher’s General Store, North Broadalbin, NY.22 Annamarie recalled that they celebrated Christmas (1954) at their North Broadalbin home as they were purchasing and moving to the store.2 On 11 Feb 1955, Howard Edward was born.

1956:
On 11 Dec 1956, Howard and Annamarie sold their General Store in North Broadalbin, NY.23 They found it very difficult to handle running the store as they still owned their North Broadalbin house, Annamarie worked full time as a teacher and they had an infant, Howard Edward along with 4-year-old Laurel Ann.8,2 Howard obtained a job with the Federal Government, so the Reed family moved to an upstairs apartment on 7th Avenue, Gloversville, NY.8,2

1957:
In late 1957, the Reed family left their Gloversville apartment and moved back to their North Broadalbin home where they celebrated Christmas. Annamarie did not return to teaching until early 1957 when she started teaching kindergarten during spring semester at the Perth (NY) Central School. She returned to Perth (NY) Central School the following fall teaching grades 5 and 6 for the 1957-1958 school year.8,1275

1958:
On 18 Apr 1958, Howard and Annamarie sold their North Broadalbin home that they had purchased in 1946.24 They moved the family to an upstairs apartment on School St., Mayfield, NY. The house was along the Sacandaga Reservoir, next to the bridge over the Mayfield Lake dam.8,2 Annamarie started teaching 5th grade at Mayfield (NY) Central School beginning fall 1958 where she would remain for 18 years until her retirement from teaching in 1976.8,2

1960:
Howard and Annamarie Reed purchased property at 4 Woodside Ave., Mayfield on 6 Jul 1960.25,26

1970’s and 1980’s:
Howard and Annamarie’s first truck camper was a Roadcruiser on a blue Ford pickup truck, after which they purchased a Realite truck camper. That was followed by a “mini”motor home by Realite, then a larger (24’??) Realite motor home. Howard and Annamarie were members of the Leisure Weekenders Camper Club, Bob-A-Doo’s Sales, Amsterdam, New York for many years. They enjoyed the meets and the company and formed many lasting friendships through this club. It was only after the sale of their last motor home, because Howard was no longer comfortable driving something that big, that Annamarie started seriously collecting her other life-long love, dolls.2

Howard and Annamarie also enjoyed snowmobile riding. They owned three snowmobiles (one Sno-Prince and two Skiroules) and were also members of the Bannertown Snowmobile Club in Mayfield, NY.2

Some of the family’s favorite places to eat were: the Idle Hour in Johnstown, NY; The Hope Diner in Hope, NY; Silva’s in Glenville, NY; and Grants/Carl Co. in the Amsterdam, NY mall.2

The family pets during these years were: Cub (registered name: King of the Woods), a male Shipperke, circa 1960-1974; Wags (late 1960’s) and Ruckus (1970’s), both large male Beagles; Big Tom, a male common cat (circa 1960-1972) and Koochka, a female calico cat (1972-?).2 Cub was killed on 21 Feb 1972 by a renegade Husky that was later destroyed.2

1976:
Annamarie retired from teaching June 1976 after 32 years in the classroom including experience in Kindergarten through grade 8.2

1978:
Annamarie returned to teaching for three months (Sep through Nov) as a substitute teacher in 3rd grade at Mayfield Central School.1275

2002:
Annamarie died as a result of injuries sustained in an automobile accident at the intersection of Rt. 30A and South Melcher Street, Johnstown, NY. The accident occured at approximately 11:15 a.m. 18 Dec 2002.1280,2

Good friends:
Letha B. Leslie and Thelma Argersinger, fellow teachers at Broadalbin Central School, Broadalbin, New York.2