Anna Louise Alexander, age 85, passed away peacefully on June 12, 2026 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.

When raising her children and things had been rough, Anna would say to them "Well kids, we got through that...these things just build character. " Anyone who knew her can tell you, she had enormous character.

Anna Louise Henry was born August 3, 1940 in Tulsa, Oklahoma to parents Roberta (Smith) and Paul Henry. She was the third born of their seven children. The Henry home was loving, busy, fun, loud, and never boring. She had great love and respect for her parents; she loved her family.

She cherished the nuns who taught her at Holy Family Catholic School and had wanted to be a nun herself. But she wanted children even more. In 1958 she married Joseph Gorman, and they had three children. By the age of 23 she was facing the challenge of raising her small children as a single mother.

Anna and her children moved to Oklahoma City in 1967. She attended Central State University for a year, and later OSU-OKC Extension. Her career was with AT&T, she held positions in Quality Assurance in Oklahoma, Missouri, New Jersey, and Texas, retiring in 1994. In 1986 she settled in Lancaster, Texas to be near her mother and brothers. In 2014 she returned to Oklahoma City to be closer to her children. She fully embraced and enjoyed her independence, her career, and had a vibrant social life. Anna would make new friends wherever she went, many of them lifelong.

She found the way to fulfill her calling to serve God and in 1994 was initiated into the Order of Secular Franciscan Fraternity St Francis of Assisi. She devoted time to study, prayer, meditation, as well as service to her Texas and later Oklahoma communities. She was active in the SFA Homeless Program which was dear to her. She was a member of Epiphany of the Lord Catholic Church in Oklahoma City and served in her Franciscan ministry up to the last week of her life.

Anna lived a big life. Among her many interests were reading, sports, music, dancing, she loved a good movie and was a serious bridge player. She was a strong woman with an iron will who accomplished many things to be proud of. "Grandma Anna" is mourned by her family, her community, and her many friends. We celebrate her extraordinary life, and we all wish her great love and peace.

Anna is survived by her three children, Joanna (Gorman) Miller and her husband Stephen, Robert Gorman and his wife Margaret of Oklahoma City, and Michael Gorman of Tulsa. Her beloved grandchildren Amanda, Michelle, Tamara, Michael Jr, and Jennifer, great grandchildren and great great grandchildren; her surviving sisters Jana Ardoin and her husband Pete of Maumelle, Arkansas, and Elizabeth Apple and her husband Steven of Tulsa, Oklahoma; and her many nieces and nephews in Oklahoma, Arkansas, California, and Texas.

A Memorial Mass will be held Monday, June 22nd, 10:30 am at Epiphany of the Lord Catholic Church Chapel, 7336 West Britton Road in Oklahoma City.

A private family service will be held Saturday, June 27th, 10:00 am, at Calvary Cemetery Grounds in the Fitzgerald Southwood Colonial Chapel, 3612 E 91st Street South, Tulsa, Oklahoma 74137. Burial will be in Calvary Cemetery, Tulsa, Oklahoma.

To honor Anna's life and ministry work please consider donating to the Saint Francis of Assisi Homeless Program, c/o Bill Full, 16801 Valderama Way, Edmond, OK 73012.