Long-time area resident Anne-Marie Begley passed away peacefully on April 17 of complications from ovarian cancer at age 63. She was born in Harlan, Kentucky, to Phillip Begley and Nicolle Passot Begley, graduated as valedictorian of her high school class and even then was recognized as an excellent trumpet player. She earned a bachelors degree from Ohio Wesleyan and masters degrees in math and music from the University of Illinois.
Anne-Marie was an inspiring teacher of music, math, and science. For many years she was a popular and versatile instructor with Music Arts, Oak Ridge's Community Music School. She left this position in 1998 to become the first primary music teacher and coordinator of the music program of The Joy of Music Youth Music School, which provides free music lessons to the disadvantaged youth of the Boys and Girls Clubs of Knoxville. Most recently she taught math, music and biology to at-risk youth at Florence Crittenton Center, until retiring in 2009.
Anne-Marie's special gift was the positive and persuasive attitude she brought to musical performance, encouraging and enabling her fellow players to perform beyond their own expectations. Through her enjoyment of all types of music she had ties to Knoxville, Norris, Oak Ridge, and Farragut.
As a trumpet player, she played swing, dixie, classical, and sacred music. In 1994 she co-founded the Pellissippi State Technical Community College Band (later named the Farragut Pops Ensemble) and served as music director until 2006 when it became the Tennessee Valley Ensemble. She played in the Oak Ridge Community Band/Wind Ensemble and associated smaller groups. She also played in jazz and swing bands, including The Music Crafters, The Favorites, Little Big Band, and Swing Time.
Performing on lap and hammered dulcimer, she was a member of the Knoxville Area Dulcimer Group, and most recently directed a Saint Patrick's Day performance of Celtic music at Maryville College. She was the choir director at Norris Religious Fellowship and helped establish the Norris Dulcimer Group. In addition, Anne-Marie played banjo, guitar, mandolin, harp, and bowed psaltery, as well as singing. She also arranged many pieces for choir and for various instruments.

Anne-Marie's other passion was her Heiskell farm, Thousand Pines Animal Park. With her late husband she bought 13 acres in 1978. For 33 years she bred and showed Saanen, Sable, and Oberhasli dairy goats. She also cared for guard llamas, chickens, guinea fowl, Angora rabbits, pet dogs, Great Pyrenees dogs, housecats and barn cats. She was an active long-time member of the Smoky Mountain Dairy Goat Association and in 2011 served as vice president.

Anne-Marie had the gift of understanding, accepting and appreciating people of all types. She perceived everyone as an equal and was able to relate to individuals from all strata of life. She loved life and participated fully in this experience of being alive.

Anne-Marie Begley is pre-deceased by her parents, brother John, and husband Jess Wynn. She is survived by her sister Evelyn Adams and husband Michael of Pennsylvania, nephews Josh and Jake Begley, niece Penny Collins, and many good friends, especially Cynthia Crosby.

A memorial service will be held at Norris Religious Fellowship, 23 Dogwood Road, Norris, TN, on Sunday, April 29 at 3:00 p.m. Her words are: "Following the service I would like there to be a party/reception to celebrate my life and my passage to a new state." Donations in lieu of flowers may be made to Norris Religious Fellowship, The Oak Ridge Community Band, Oak Ridge Animal Shelter, The Humane Society, Cleveland Amory's Fund for Animals, WDVX, and National Jewish Lung Institute, Denver, CO. www.holleygamblefh.com.